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The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio - Part 3/3 · Audiobooks & Scary Stories

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Speaker 1: Albeit it may have been a thousand times discoursed thereof
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Speaker 1: it should nathless be none the less pleasing, though one
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Speaker 1: speak of it as much. Again. Wherefore, notwithstanding it hath
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Speaker 1: been many times spoken among us of the sayings and
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Speaker 1: doings of Calandrino, I will make bold, considering, as Filistrato
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Speaker 1: said a while ago, that these are all diverting, to
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Speaker 1: tell you yet another story thereof wherein were I minded
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Speaker 1: to swerve from the fact I had very well known
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Speaker 1: to disguise and recounted under other names. But for that,
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Speaker 1: in the telling of a story, to depart from the
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Speaker 1: truth of things betided detracteth greatly from the listener's pleasure.
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Speaker 1: I will e'en tell it you in its true shape.
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Speaker 1: Moved by the reason aforesaid, Niccolo Cornicchini was a townsman
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Speaker 1: of ours and a rich man, and had, among his
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Speaker 1: other possessions a fine estate at Camarada, whereon he let
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Speaker 1: build a magnificent mansion, and agreed with Bruno and Buffalo
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Speaker 1: Maco to paint it all for him, And they, for
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Speaker 1: that the work was great, joined to themselves Nello and Calandrino,
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Speaker 1: and fell to work thither. For that there was none
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Speaker 1: of the family in the house, although there were one
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Speaker 1: or two chambers furnished with beds and other things needful,
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Speaker 1: and an old serving woman abode there as guardian of
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Speaker 1: the place. A son of the said Niccolo, by name Filippo,
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Speaker 1: being young and without a wife, was wont by times
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Speaker 1: to bring some wench or other for his diversion, and
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Speaker 1: keep her there a day or two, and after send
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Speaker 1: her away. It chanced once, among other times, that he
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Speaker 1: brought thither one called Nicolosa, whom a Lewde fellow by
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Speaker 1: name Mangioni kept at his disposal in a house at Camaldalley,
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Speaker 1: and let out on higher. She was a woman of
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Speaker 1: a fine person, and well clad, and for her kind,
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Speaker 1: well enough mannered and spoken. One day at noontide, she
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Speaker 1: having come forth her chamber in a white petticoat, with
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Speaker 1: her hair twisted about her head, and being an act
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Speaker 1: to wash her hands and face at a well that
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Speaker 1: was in the courtyard of the mansion, it chanced that
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Speaker 1: Calandrino came thither for water and saluted her familiarly. She
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Speaker 1: returned him his greeting, and fell to eyeing him more,
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Speaker 1: because he seen to her an odd sort of fellow
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Speaker 1: than for any fancy she had for him, whereupon he
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Speaker 1: likewise fell a considering her and him, seeming she was handsome,
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Speaker 1: he began to find his occasions for abiding there, and
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Speaker 1: returned not to his comrades with the water, but knowing
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Speaker 1: her not, dared not say aught to her. She, who
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Speaker 1: had noted his looking, glanced at him from time to
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Speaker 1: time to make game of him, heaving some small matter
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Speaker 1: of size the while, wherefore Calandrino fell suddenly overhead and
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Speaker 1: ears in love with her, and left not the courtyard
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Speaker 1: till she was recalled by Filipo into the chamber. Therewithal
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Speaker 1: he returned to work, but did not but sigh, which Bruno,
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Speaker 1: who had still an eye to his doings, for that
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Speaker 1: he took great delight in his fashions, remarking, what a
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Speaker 1: devil aileth thee friend Kalandrino, quoth he thou dost not
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Speaker 1: but sigh? Comrade, answered Kalandrino, had I but some one
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Speaker 1: to help me? I should fare well, how so, inquired Bruno,
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Speaker 1: and Kalandrino replied, it must not be told to any
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Speaker 1: but there is a last down yonder fairer than a fairy,
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Speaker 1: who hath fallen so mightily in love with me that
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Speaker 1: twould seem to THEE a grave matter. I noted it.
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Speaker 1: But now, when as I went for the water, eck
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Speaker 1: cod cried Bruno, Look she be not Filippo's wife, quoth Kalandrino.
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Speaker 1: Methinketh it is she? For that he called her, and
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Speaker 1: she went to him in the chamber. But what of that?
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Speaker 1: In matters of this kind? I would jocky christ himself,
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Speaker 1: let alone Filipo, and to tell THEE the truth. Comrade,
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Speaker 1: she pleaseth me more than I can tell THEE. Comrade,
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Speaker 1: answer Bruno, I will spy THEE out who she is.
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Speaker 1: And if she be Filippo's wife, I will order thine
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Speaker 1: affairs for THEE in a brace of words, for she
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Speaker 1: is a great friend of mine. But how shall we
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Speaker 1: do so? Buff al Maco may not know. I can
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Speaker 1: never get a word with her, But he is with me,
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Speaker 1: quoth Kalandrino of buff al Maco. I reck not. But
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Speaker 1: we must beware of Nello, for that he is Tessa's kinsman.
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Speaker 1: And would mar us everything. And Bruno said, true, now
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Speaker 1: he knew very well who the wench was, for that
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Speaker 1: he had seen her come and moreover, Filipo had told
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Speaker 1: him accordingly. Calandrino, having left work a while and gone
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Speaker 1: to get a sight of her, Bruno told Nello and
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Speaker 1: buffal Maco everything, and they took order together in secret
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Speaker 1: what they should do with him in the matter of
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Speaker 1: this his enymorment. When he came back, Bruno said to
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Speaker 1: him softly, hast seen her? Alack? Yes, replied Calandrino, she
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Speaker 1: hath slain me, quoth Bruno. I must go see, and
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Speaker 1: it be she, I suppose, and if it be so,
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Speaker 1: leave me do accordingly. He went down into the courtyard, and,
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Speaker 1: finding Filippo and Niccolosa there, told them precisely what manner
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Speaker 1: of man Calandrino was, and took order with them of
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Speaker 1: that which each of them should do, and say, so
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Speaker 1: they might divert themselves with the love sick gull and
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Speaker 1: make merry over his passion. Then, returning to Calandrino, he said,
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Speaker 1: it is indeed she, wherefore needs must the thing be
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Speaker 1: very discreetly managed, For should Filippo get wind of it,
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Speaker 1: all the water in the Arno would not wash us.
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Speaker 1: But what wouldst thou have me say to her on
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Speaker 1: thy part? If I should chance to get speech of her?
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Speaker 1: Faith answered Calandrino, thou shalt tell her to begin with that,
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Speaker 1: I will her a thousand measures of that good stuff
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Speaker 1: that getteth with child. And after that I am her servant.
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Speaker 1: And if she would have aught, thou takest me, I
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Speaker 1: said Bruno, leave me do presently. Supper time being come,
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Speaker 1: the painters left work and went down into the courtyard,
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Speaker 1: where they found Filippo and Nicolosa, and tarried there a while.
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Speaker 1: To oblige Calandrino, the latter fell to ogling Nicolosa and
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Speaker 1: making the oddest gramaces in the world, such and so
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Speaker 1: many that a blind man would have remarked them. She,
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Speaker 1: on her side, did everything that she thought apt to
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Speaker 1: inflame him, and Filipo, in accordance with the instructions he
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Speaker 1: had of Bruno, made believe to talk with buffal Maco
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Speaker 1: and the others, and have no heed of this, whilst
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Speaker 1: taking the utmost aversion in Kalandrino's fashions. However, after a while,
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Speaker 1: to the latter's exceeding chagrin, they took their leave, and
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Speaker 1: as they returned to Florence, Bruno said to Calandrino, I
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Speaker 1: can tell thee thou makest her melt like cais in
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Speaker 1: the sun Cox's body. Wert thou to fetch thy rebeck
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Speaker 1: and warble there too, some of those amorous ditties of
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Speaker 1: thine Thou wouldst cause her cast herself out of window
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Speaker 1: to come to THEE. Quoth Kalandrino, deemest thou gossip. Deemest thou,
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Speaker 1: I should do well to fetch it. I do I
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Speaker 1: answer Bruno, and Kalandrino went on, thou wouldst not credit
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Speaker 1: me this morning when as I told it THEE, but
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Speaker 1: for certain gossip, methinketh I know better than any man
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Speaker 1: alive to do what I will. Who other than I
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Speaker 1: had known to make such a lady so quickly in
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Speaker 1: love with me? Not your trumpeting young braggarts four hundred
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Speaker 1: and thirty two. I warrant you, who are up and
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Speaker 1: down all day long and could not make shift in
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Speaker 1: a thousand and years, to get together three hands full
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Speaker 1: of cherry stones. I would fain have THEE see me
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Speaker 1: with the rebeck. Twould be fine sport for THEE. I
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Speaker 1: will have THEE to understand once for all that I
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Speaker 1: am no dodored as thou deemest me. And this she
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Speaker 1: hath right well perceived. She but I will make her
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Speaker 1: feel at other gates fashion. So once I get my
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Speaker 1: claw into her back, by the very body of Christ,
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Speaker 1: I will lead her such a dance that she will
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Speaker 1: run after me as the mad woman after her child.
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Speaker 1: I rejoined Bruno. I warrant me thou wilt rummage her.
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Speaker 1: Methinketh I see thee with those teeth of thine that
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Speaker 1: were made for virginal jacks four hundred thirty three, by
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Speaker 1: that little Vermo mouth of hers, and those her cheeks
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Speaker 1: that show like two roses, and after eat her all up. Calandrino,
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Speaker 1: hearing this, fancied himself already at it, and went singing
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Speaker 1: and skipping, so overjoyed that he was like to jump
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Speaker 1: out of his skin. On the morrow, having brought the Rebeck,
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Speaker 1: he to the great diversion of all the company, sang
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Speaker 1: sundry songs there too, And in brief he was taken
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Speaker 1: with such an itch for the frequent seeing of her,
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Speaker 1: that he wrought not a whit, but ran a thousand
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Speaker 1: times a day, now to the window, now to the door,
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Speaker 1: and anon into the courtyard to get a look at her,
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Speaker 1: whereof she adroitly carrying out Bruno's instructions afforded him ample occasion. Bruno,
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Speaker 1: on his side, answered his messages in her name, and
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Speaker 1: by times brought him others as from her, And when
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Speaker 1: as she was not there, which was mostly the case,
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Speaker 1: he carried him letters from her, wherein she gave him
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Speaker 1: great hopes of compassing his desire, feigning herself at home
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Speaker 1: with her kinsfolk, where he might not presently see her.
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Speaker 1: On this wise, Bruno, with the aid of buffal Maco,
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Speaker 1: who had a hand in the matter, kept the game
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Speaker 1: afoot and had the greatest sport in the world, with
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Speaker 1: Calandrino's antics, causing him give them by times as at
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Speaker 1: his mistress's request, now an ivory comb, now a purse,
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Speaker 1: and anon a knife, and such like toys for which
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Speaker 1: they brought him in return, diverse paltry counterfeit rings of
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Speaker 1: no value with which he would vastly delighted, and to
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Speaker 1: boot they had of him for their pains, store of
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Speaker 1: dainty collations, and other small matters of entertainment, so they
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Speaker 1: might be diligent about his affairs. On this wise, they
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Speaker 1: kept him in play good two months without getting a
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Speaker 1: step farther, at the end of which time, seeing the
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Speaker 1: work draw to an end, and bethinking himself that, and
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Speaker 1: he brought not his amours to an issue. In the
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Speaker 1: meantime he might never have another chance. Thereof, he began
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Speaker 1: to urge and importune Bruno a main. Wherefore, when next
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Speaker 1: the girl came to the mansion, Bruno, having first taken
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Speaker 1: order with her and Filippo of what was to be done,
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Speaker 1: said to Kalandrino, harky gossip yonder, lady hath promised me
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Speaker 1: a good thousand times to do that which thou wouldst have,
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Speaker 1: And yet doth not thereof, and meseemeth she letteth THEE
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Speaker 1: by the nose. Wherefore, since she doth it not as
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Speaker 1: she promiseth, we will in it like THEE make her
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Speaker 1: do it? Will she nil she echod, I answered Kalandrino.
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Speaker 1: For the love of God, let it be done speedily,
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Speaker 1: quoth Bruno. Will thy heart serve THEE to touch her
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Speaker 1: with a script? I shall give THEE, I sure, replied Calandrino,
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Speaker 1: and the other. Then do thou make shift to bring
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Speaker 1: me a piece of virgin parchment in a live bat,
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Speaker 1: together with three grains of frankincense and a candle that
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Speaker 1: hath been blessed by the priest, And leave me do Accordingly,
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Speaker 1: Calandrino lay in wait all the next night with his
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Speaker 1: engines to catch a bat in, having at last taken one,
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Speaker 1: carried it to Bruno with the other things required. Whereupon
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Speaker 1: the latter, withdrawing to a chamber, scribbled diver's toys of
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Speaker 1: his fashion upon the parchment in characters of his own devising,
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Speaker 1: and brought it to him, saying, no, Calandrino, that if
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Speaker 1: thou touch her with this script, she will incontinent follow
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Speaker 1: thee and do what thou wilt. Wherefore, if Filipo should
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Speaker 1: go abroad any whither to day, do thou contrive to
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Speaker 1: accost her, on some pretext or other in touch her,
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Speaker 1: then betake thyself to the barn yonder, which is the
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Speaker 1: best place here for thy purpose, For that no one
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Speaker 1: ever frequent there, thou wilt find she will come thither,
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Speaker 1: and when she is there, thou knowest well what thou
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Speaker 1: hast to do. Kalandrino was the joyfulest man alive, and
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Speaker 1: took the script, saying, gossip, leave me do now. Nello,
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Speaker 1: whom Calandrino mistrusted, had as much diversion of the matter
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Speaker 1: as the others, and bore a hand with them in
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Speaker 1: making sport of him. Wherefore, of accord with Bruno, he
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Speaker 1: betook himself to Florence, to Kalandrino's wife, and said to
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Speaker 1: her Tessa, thou knowest what a beating Kalandrino gave THEE
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Speaker 1: without cause the day he came back laden with stones
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Speaker 1: from the mug Nun. Wherefore I mean to have THEE
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Speaker 1: avenged thyself on him, And if thou do it not
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Speaker 1: hold me no more for kinsman or for friend. He
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Speaker 1: hath fallen in love with a woman over yonder, and
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Speaker 1: she is lude enough to go very often, closeting herself
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Speaker 1: with him. A little while. Agone they appointed each other
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Speaker 1: to foregather together this very day, Wherefore I would have
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Speaker 1: THEE come thither and lie in wait for him, and
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Speaker 1: chastise him well. When the lady heard this, it's seemed
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Speaker 1: to her no jesting matter. But starting to her feet,
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Speaker 1: she fell a saying, black common thief, that thou art
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Speaker 1: is it thus that thou usest me by Christ His cross?
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Speaker 1: It shall not pass thus, but I will pay THEE. Therefore, then,
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Speaker 1: taking her mantle and a little maid to bear her company,
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Speaker 1: she started off at a good round pace for the mansion.
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Speaker 1: Together with Nello. As soon as Bruno saw the ladder
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Speaker 1: afar off, he said to Filippo, here cometh our friend.
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Speaker 1: Whereupon the ladder, betaking himself, whereas Calandrino and the others
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Speaker 1: were at work, said masters needs must I go presently
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Speaker 1: to Florence work with a will. Then, going away, he
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Speaker 1: hid himself in a place when he could, without being seen,
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Speaker 1: see what Kalandrino should do the latter. As soon as
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Speaker 1: he deemed Filippo somewhat removed, came down into the courtyard, and,
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Speaker 1: finding Niccolosa there alone, entered into talk with her, whilst she,
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Speaker 1: who knew well enough what she had to do, drew
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Speaker 1: near him an entree him somewhat more familiarly than of
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Speaker 1: wont Thereupon he touched her with the script, and no
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Speaker 1: sooner had he done so, than he turned, without saying
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Speaker 1: a word, and made for the barn, whither she followed him.
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Speaker 1: As soon as she was within, she shut the door, and,
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Speaker 1: taking him in her arms, threw him down on the
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Speaker 1: straw that was on the floor, Then mounting astride of him,
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Speaker 1: and holding him with her hands on his shoulders, without
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Speaker 1: letting him draw near her face. She gazed at him
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Speaker 1: as he were her utmost desire, and said, O, sweet,
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Speaker 1: my Kalandrino, heart of my body, my soul, my treasure,
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Speaker 1: my comfort. How long have I desired to have THEE
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Speaker 1: and to be able to hold thee? At my wish?
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Speaker 1: Thou hast drawn all the thread out of my shift
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Speaker 1: with thy gentillesse. Thou hast tickled my heart with thy rebeck.
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Speaker 1: Can it be true that I hold thee? Kalandrino, who
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Speaker 1: could scarce stir, said, for God's sake, sweep my soul.
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Speaker 1: Let me bust thee. Mary answered, she thou art in
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Speaker 1: a mighty hurry. Let me take my fill of looking
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Speaker 1: upon thee. Let me sate mine eyes with that sweet
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Speaker 1: face of thine. Now Bruno and buffal Maco were come
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Speaker 1: to join Filippo, and all three heard and saw all this,
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Speaker 1: as Kalandrino was now offering to kiss Niccolosa. Perforce, up
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Speaker 1: came Nello with Dame Tessa and said, as soon as
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Speaker 1: he reached the place, I vow to God they are together. Then,
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Speaker 1: coming up to the door of the barn, the lady,
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Speaker 1: who was all afume with rage, dealt it such a
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Speaker 1: push with her hands that she sent it flying, and
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Speaker 1: entering saw Niccolosa astride of Kalandrino. The former, seeing the lady,
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Speaker 1: started up in haste and taking to flight, made off
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Speaker 1: to join Filippo, whilst Dame Tessa fell tooth and nail
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Speaker 1: upon Kalandrino, who was still on his back, and clawed
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Speaker 1: all his face, then clutching him by the hair and
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Speaker 1: hailing him hither and thither, Thou sorry, shitn't cur quoth
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Speaker 1: she dost thou then use me thus besotted Dodor, that
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Speaker 1: thou art but cursed be the weal I have willed
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Speaker 1: THEE may see method to thee Thou hast not enough
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Speaker 1: to do at home, That thou must go wantoning it
15:04
Speaker 1: in other folks preserves a fine gallant I faith. Dost
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Speaker 1: thou not know thyself? Lawsel that thou art, dost thou
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Speaker 1: not know thyself? Good? For naught wert thou to be
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Speaker 1: squeezed dry? There would not come as much jews from
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Speaker 1: THEE as might suffice for a sauce Cox's faith. Thou
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Speaker 1: canst not say it was Tessa that was presently an
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Speaker 1: act to get THEE with child. God make her sorry
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Speaker 1: whoever she is for a scurvy troll, as she must
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Speaker 1: be to have a mind to so fine a jewel
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Speaker 1: as thou. Calandrino, seeing his wife come abode neither dead
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Speaker 1: nor alive, and had not the hardihood to make any
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Speaker 1: defense against her. But rising all scratched and flayed and
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Speaker 1: baffled as he was, and picking up his bonnet, he
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Speaker 1: fell to humbly beseeching her leave, crying out, And she
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Speaker 1: would not have him cut in pieces, for that she
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Speaker 1: who had been with him, was the wife of the
15:56
Speaker 1: master of the house. Whereupon quoth she so be it, God,
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Speaker 1: God give her an ill year. At this moment, Bruno
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Speaker 1: and buffal Maco, having laughed their fill at all this,
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Speaker 1: in company with Filippo and Nicolosa, came up, feigning to
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Speaker 1: be attracted by the clamor, and having with no little
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Speaker 1: ado appeased the lady counseled Calandrino betake himself to Florence,
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Speaker 1: and returned thither no more, lest Filippo should get wind
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Speaker 1: of the matter and do him a mischief. Accordingly, he
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Speaker 1: returned to Florence, chap fallen and wobegon, all flayed and scratched,
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Speaker 1: and never ventured to go thither again, But being plagued
16:32
Speaker 1: and harassed night and day, with his wife's reproaches, he
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Speaker 1: made an end of his fervent love, having given much
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Speaker 1: cause for laughter to his companions, no less than to
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Speaker 1: Nicolosa and Filippo. The sixth story, day the ninth, two
16:45
Speaker 1: young gentlemen lodged the night with an innkeeper, whereof one
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Speaker 1: goeth to lie with the host's daughter, whilst his wife,
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Speaker 1: unwittingly coucheth with the other. After which he who lay
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Speaker 1: with the girl, getteth him to bed with her father,
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Speaker 1: and telleth him, all thinking to bespeak his comrade therewithal
17:02
Speaker 1: they come two words. But the wife, perceiving her mistake,
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Speaker 1: entereth her daughter's bed, and thence with certain words appease
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Speaker 1: of everything. Kalandrino, who had otherwise afforded the company matter
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Speaker 1: for laughter, made them laugh this time also, And when
17:15
Speaker 1: as the ladies had left, devising of his fashions, the
17:18
Speaker 1: queen bade Pamphalo tell, whereupon quoth he, laudable ladies, the
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Speaker 1: name of Nicolosa. Kalandrino's mistress hath brought me back to
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Speaker 1: mind the story of another Nicolosa, which it pleaseth me
17:30
Speaker 1: to tell you, for that therein ye shall see how
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Speaker 1: a good wife's ready, which did away a great scandal
17:35
Speaker 1: in the plain of mug Nun. There was not long
17:37
Speaker 1: since a good man who gave wayfarers to eat and
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Speaker 1: drink for their money. And although he was poor and
17:42
Speaker 1: had but a small house, he by times at a pinch,
17:45
Speaker 1: gave not every one but sundry acquaintances a night's lodging.
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Speaker 1: He had a wife, a very handsome woman, by whom
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Speaker 1: he had two children, whereof one was a fine buxom
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Speaker 1: lass of some fifteen or sixteen years of age, who
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Speaker 1: was not yet ment married, and the other a little
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Speaker 1: child not yet a year old, whom his mother herself suckled.
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Speaker 1: Now a young gentleman of our city, a sprightly and
18:08
Speaker 1: pleasant youth who was often in those parts, had cast
18:11
Speaker 1: his eyes on the girl and loved her ardently, And she,
18:14
Speaker 1: who gloried greatly in being beloved of a youth of
18:17
Speaker 1: his quality, whilst studying with pleasing fashions to maintain him
18:20
Speaker 1: in her love, became no less enamored of him, and
18:23
Speaker 1: more than once by mutual accord this their love had
18:27
Speaker 1: had the desired effect. But that Pinucco, for such was
18:31
Speaker 1: the young man's name, feared to bring reproach upon his
18:34
Speaker 1: mistress and himself. However, his ardor waxing from day to day,
18:39
Speaker 1: he could no longer master his desire to forgather with her,
18:42
Speaker 1: And bethought himself to find a means of harboring with
18:44
Speaker 1: her father, doubting not from his acquaintance with the ordinance
18:47
Speaker 1: of the latter's house, but he might, in that event
18:50
Speaker 1: contrive to pass the night in her company without any
18:52
Speaker 1: being the wiser. And no sooner had he conceived this
18:56
Speaker 1: design than he proceeded without delay to carry it into execution, accordingly,
19:01
Speaker 1: in company with a trusty friend of his called Adriano,
19:04
Speaker 1: who knew his love. He late one evening, hired a
19:07
Speaker 1: couple of hackneys, and set thereon two pairs of saddle bags,
19:10
Speaker 1: filled thelike with straw, with which they set out from Florence, and,
19:15
Speaker 1: fetching a compass, rode till they came over against the
19:17
Speaker 1: plain of mug Nan, it being by this night. Then,
19:21
Speaker 1: turning about as they were on their way back from Romagna,
19:24
Speaker 1: they made for the good Man's house and knocked at
19:26
Speaker 1: the door. The host, being very familiar with both of them,
19:30
Speaker 1: promptly opened the door, and Pinucco said to him, look, you,
19:34
Speaker 1: thou must needs harbor us this night. We thought to
19:37
Speaker 1: reach Florence before dark, but have not availed to make
19:40
Speaker 1: such haste. But that we find ourselves here, as thou
19:43
Speaker 1: sayest at this hour, Pinucco answered the host, thou well
19:47
Speaker 1: knowest how little commodity I have to lodge such men
19:50
Speaker 1: as you are. However, since the night hath e and
19:52
Speaker 1: overtaken you here, and there is no time for you
19:54
Speaker 1: to go otherwhere, I will gladly harbor you as I may.
19:58
Speaker 1: The two young men according alighted and entered the inn,
20:01
Speaker 1: where they first eased four hundred thirty four their hackneys,
20:05
Speaker 1: and after supper, with the host having taken good care
20:08
Speaker 1: to bring provision with them. Now the good man had
20:11
Speaker 1: but one very small bed chamber, wherein were three pallet beds, set,
20:15
Speaker 1: as best he knew, two at one end of the room,
20:17
Speaker 1: and the third over against them at the other end.
20:20
Speaker 1: Nor for all that was there so much space left
20:22
Speaker 1: that one could go there otherwise than straightly the least
20:26
Speaker 1: ill of the three. The host let make ready for
20:28
Speaker 1: the two friends, and put them to lie there. Then,
20:30
Speaker 1: after a while, neither of the gentlemen being asleep, though
20:33
Speaker 1: both made a show thereof, he caused his daughter betake
20:36
Speaker 1: herself to bed in one of the two others, and
20:38
Speaker 1: laid down himself in the third with his wife, who
20:42
Speaker 1: sat by the bedside the cradle, wherein she had her
20:44
Speaker 1: little son. Things being ordered after this fashion, and Pinuccho,
20:48
Speaker 1: having seen everything, after a while, him seeming that every
20:52
Speaker 1: one was asleep, he arose softly in going to the
20:55
Speaker 1: bed where slept the girl beloved of him, laid himself
20:57
Speaker 1: beside the ladder, by whom for all she did it timorously.
21:02
Speaker 1: He was joyfully received, and with her he proceeded to
21:05
Speaker 1: take of that pleasure which both most desired. Whilst Pinccho
21:09
Speaker 1: abode thus with his mistress, it chanced that a cat
21:12
Speaker 1: caused certain things fall, which the good wife, awaking, heard, Whereupon,
21:17
Speaker 1: fearing lest it were otherwat she arose as she was
21:21
Speaker 1: in the dark, and betook herself whereas she had heard
21:24
Speaker 1: the noise. Meanwhile, Adriano, without intent a forethought, arose by
21:29
Speaker 1: chance for some natural occasion, in going to despatch. This
21:33
Speaker 1: came upon the cradle, whereas it had been set by
21:35
Speaker 1: the good wife, and unable to pass without moving it,
21:38
Speaker 1: took it up and set it down beside his own bed. Then,
21:42
Speaker 1: having accomplished that for which he had arisen, he returned
21:45
Speaker 1: and betook himself to bed again, without wrecking of the cradle.
21:49
Speaker 1: The good wife, having searched and found the thing which
21:52
Speaker 1: had fallen was not what she thought, never troubled herself
21:55
Speaker 1: to kindle a light to see it, But chiding the cat,
21:58
Speaker 1: returned to the chamber in and groped her way to
22:00
Speaker 1: the bed where her husband lay, finding the cradle not there, mercy, O,
22:05
Speaker 1: me quoth she and herself see what I was about
22:09
Speaker 1: to do. As I am a Christian, I had well
22:12
Speaker 1: nigh gone straight to our guest's bed. Then, going a
22:16
Speaker 1: little farther, and finding the cradle, she entered the bed
22:19
Speaker 1: whereby it stood, and laid herself down beside Adriano, thinking
22:22
Speaker 1: to couch with her husband. Adriano, who was not yet asleep,
22:27
Speaker 1: feeling this, received her well and joyously, and, laying her
22:30
Speaker 1: aboard in a trice, clapped on all sail, to the
22:33
Speaker 1: no small contentment of the lady. Meanwhile, Pinucco, fearing lest
22:38
Speaker 1: sleep should surprise him with his lass, and having taken
22:40
Speaker 1: of her his fill of pleasure, arose from her to
22:43
Speaker 1: return to his own bed to sleep, and, finding the
22:46
Speaker 1: cradle in his way, took the adjoining bed for that
22:48
Speaker 1: of his host, wherefore, going a little farther, he lay
22:52
Speaker 1: down with the latter, who awoke at his coming. Pinucco,
22:56
Speaker 1: deeming himself beside Adriano, said, I tell THEE, there never
22:59
Speaker 1: was so sweet a creature as is Nicolosa Coxe's body.
23:04
Speaker 1: I have had with her the rarest sport ever man
23:06
Speaker 1: had with woman, more by token that I have gone
23:08
Speaker 1: upwards of six times into the country since I left thee.
23:12
Speaker 1: The host, hearing this talk, and being not over well pleased, therewith, said,
23:16
Speaker 1: first in himself, what a devil doth this fellow here? Then?
23:21
Speaker 1: More angered than well advised, Pinuccho quoth he this hath
23:25
Speaker 1: been a great piece of villany of thine. And I
23:27
Speaker 1: know not why thou shouldst have used me thus, But
23:30
Speaker 1: by the body of God, I will pay THEE for it. Pinuccio,
23:34
Speaker 1: who was not the wisest lad in the world, seeing
23:37
Speaker 1: his mistake, addressed not himself to mend it as best
23:40
Speaker 1: he might, but said, of what wilt thou pay me?
23:43
Speaker 1: What canst thou do to me? Therewith all the hostess,
23:47
Speaker 1: who thought herself with her husband, said to Adriano, good lack,
23:51
Speaker 1: hark to our guests, how they are at? I know
23:52
Speaker 1: not what words together, quoth Adriano, laughing, leave them doe,
23:58
Speaker 1: God land them in an ill year. They drank over
24:01
Speaker 1: much yester night. The good wife her, seeming she had
24:05
Speaker 1: heard her husband scold, and hearing Adriano speak incontinent, perceived
24:09
Speaker 1: where and with whom she had been. Whereupon, like a
24:12
Speaker 1: wise woman as she was, she arose forthright, without saying
24:15
Speaker 1: a word, and taking her little son's cradle, carried it
24:19
Speaker 1: at a guess, for that there was no jot of
24:21
Speaker 1: light to be seen in the chamber, to the side
24:24
Speaker 1: of the bed where her daughter slept, and lay down
24:26
Speaker 1: with the latter. Then, as if she had been aroused
24:28
Speaker 1: by her husband's clamor, she called him and inquired what
24:31
Speaker 1: was to do between himself and Pinuccho. He answered, hearest
24:35
Speaker 1: thou not what he saith, he hath done this night
24:37
Speaker 1: unto Niccolosa, Mary, quoth she he leath in his throat,
24:42
Speaker 1: for he was never abed with Nicolosa. Seeing that I
24:45
Speaker 1: have lain here all night, more by token that I
24:48
Speaker 1: have not been able to sleep a wink, and thou
24:50
Speaker 1: art an ass to believe him. You men drink so
24:53
Speaker 1: much of an evening that you do nothing but dream
24:55
Speaker 1: all night, and fair hither and thither without knowing it,
24:58
Speaker 1: And fancy you do one tis a thousand pities. You
25:02
Speaker 1: don't break your necks. But what doth Pinuccho yonder? Why
25:07
Speaker 1: bedeath he not in his own bed. Adriano, on his part,
25:11
Speaker 1: seeing how adroitly the good wife went about to cover
25:14
Speaker 1: her own shame and that of her daughter, chimed in
25:16
Speaker 1: with Pinucco. I have told thee an hundred times not
25:19
Speaker 1: to go abroad, for that, this thy trick of arising
25:22
Speaker 1: in thy sleep and telling for true the extravagances thou
25:24
Speaker 1: dreamest will bring THEE into trouble some day or other.
25:28
Speaker 1: Come back here, God give thee an ill night. The host,
25:32
Speaker 1: hearing what his wife and Adriano said, began to believe
25:35
Speaker 1: in good earnest that Pinuccio was dreaming, and accordingly, taking
25:39
Speaker 1: him by the shoulders, he fell to shaking and calling him, saying, Pinuccho, awake,
25:44
Speaker 1: return to thine own bed. Pinucco, having apprehended all that
25:48
Speaker 1: had been said, began to wander off into other extravagances.
25:51
Speaker 1: After the fashion of a man a dream whereat the
25:54
Speaker 1: host set up the heartiest laughter in the world. At
25:57
Speaker 1: last he made believe to awake for stress of shaking,
26:01
Speaker 1: and calling to Adriano, said, is it already day that
26:04
Speaker 1: thou cayeest me? I? Answered? The other? Come hither accordingly. Pinucco,
26:11
Speaker 1: dissembling and making a show of being sleepy eyed, arose
26:14
Speaker 1: at last from beside the host, and went back to
26:16
Speaker 1: bed with Adriano. The day come and they, being risen,
26:20
Speaker 1: the host fell to laughing and mocking at Pinuccho and
26:23
Speaker 1: his dreams. And so they passed from one jest to another,
26:26
Speaker 1: till the young men, having saddled their round sees and
26:29
Speaker 1: strapped on their valises, and drunken with the host, remounted
26:32
Speaker 1: to horse and rode away to Florence, no less content
26:35
Speaker 1: with the manner in which the thing had betided them,
26:38
Speaker 1: with the effect itself thereof. Thereafter, Pinuccho found other means
26:42
Speaker 1: of forgathering with Nicolosa, who vowed to her mother that
26:45
Speaker 1: he had certainly dreamt the thing. Wherefore the good wife,
26:48
Speaker 1: remembering her of Adriano's embracements, inwardly a vouched herself alone
26:52
Speaker 1: to have waked the seventh story day the ninth Tolano
26:56
Speaker 1: Diamalise dream met that a wolf mangleth all his wife's neck,
26:59
Speaker 1: and and biddeth her beware thereof. But she paith and
27:02
Speaker 1: oh heed to his warning, and it befalleth her, even
27:05
Speaker 1: as he had dreamed. Pamphalo's story being ended, and the
27:08
Speaker 1: goodwife's presence of mind having been commended of all, the
27:12
Speaker 1: Queen bade Pampinia tell hers, and she thereupon began it.
27:15
Speaker 1: Hath been otherwhile discoursed among us charming ladies, of the
27:19
Speaker 1: truths foreshown by dreams, the which many of our sex
27:22
Speaker 1: scoff at. Wherefore, notwithstanding that which hath been said thereof,
27:26
Speaker 1: I shall not scruple to tell you, in a very
27:28
Speaker 1: few words, that which no great while ago befell a
27:32
Speaker 1: she neighbor of mine, for not giving credit to a
27:34
Speaker 1: dream of herself seen by her husband. I know not
27:38
Speaker 1: if you were acquainted with Talano di Molise, a very
27:41
Speaker 1: worshipful man who took to wife a young lady called Margarita,
27:44
Speaker 1: fair over all others, but so humorsome, though conditioned and froward,
27:48
Speaker 1: that she would do not of other folk's judgment, nor
27:51
Speaker 1: could others do aught to her, liking the which berksham
27:54
Speaker 1: as it was to Tellano to endure knaveless, as he
27:58
Speaker 1: could no otherwise needs must he put up with. It
28:02
Speaker 1: chanced one night that, being with this margarita of his,
28:04
Speaker 1: at an estate he had in the country, him seemed
28:07
Speaker 1: in his sleep he saw his wife go walking in
28:09
Speaker 1: a very fair wood, which they had not far from
28:11
Speaker 1: their house, And as she went him seemed there came
28:14
Speaker 1: forth of a thicketed, great and fierce wolf, which sprang
28:18
Speaker 1: straight at her throat, and pulling her to the ground,
28:20
Speaker 1: enforced himself to carry her off, whilst she screamed for aid,
28:24
Speaker 1: and after she winning free of his fangs, it seemed
28:27
Speaker 1: he had marred all her throat and face. Accordingly, when
28:31
Speaker 1: he arose in the morning, he said to the lady wife,
28:34
Speaker 1: albeit thy forwardness hath never suffered me to have a
28:37
Speaker 1: good day with thee. Yet it would grieve me should
28:39
Speaker 1: ill betide thee. Wherefore an thou wilt hearken to my counsel,
28:43
Speaker 1: thou wilt not go forth the house to day? And
28:45
Speaker 1: being asked of her why, he orderly recounted to her
28:48
Speaker 1: his dream The lady shook her head and said, who
28:51
Speaker 1: willeth thee ill dreameth thee ill? Thou faign'st thyself mighty
28:56
Speaker 1: careful of me, But thou dreamest of me that which
28:58
Speaker 1: thou wouldst fain see come to pass. And thou mayst
29:01
Speaker 1: be assured that I will be careful both to day
29:03
Speaker 1: and always, not to gladden thee with this or other
29:06
Speaker 1: mischance of mine. Quoth Talano, I knew thou wouldst save
29:10
Speaker 1: us for that. Such thanks still hath he who combeth
29:13
Speaker 1: a scald head. But believe as thou listest, I, for
29:16
Speaker 1: my part tell it to thee for good, and once
29:18
Speaker 1: more I counsel thee abide at home to day, or
29:20
Speaker 1: at least beware of going into our wood. Good, answered
29:24
Speaker 1: the lady, I will do it. And after fell a
29:27
Speaker 1: saying to herself, sawest thou how artfully yonder man think
29:30
Speaker 1: to have feared me from going to our wood to day?
29:33
Speaker 1: Doubtless he hath given some troll or other tryst there,
29:36
Speaker 1: and would not have me find him with her Mary.
29:39
Speaker 1: It were fine eating for him with blind folk, and
29:41
Speaker 1: I should be a right simpleton. And I saw not
29:43
Speaker 1: his drift, And if I believed him, But cerds, he
29:47
Speaker 1: shall not have his will. Nay, though I abide there
29:50
Speaker 1: all day, needs must I see what traffic is this
29:52
Speaker 1: that he hath in hand to day? Accordingly, her husband
29:56
Speaker 1: being gone out at one door, she went out at
29:59
Speaker 1: the other, and betook herself elf, as most secretly she might,
30:01
Speaker 1: straight to the wood, and hid herself in the thickest
30:03
Speaker 1: part thereof standing a tent, and looking now here and
30:06
Speaker 1: now there, and she should see any one come as
30:10
Speaker 1: she abode on this wise without any thought of danger.
30:13
Speaker 1: Behold there sallied forth of a thick coppice, hard by
30:16
Speaker 1: a terrible great wolf. And scarce could she say, Lord
30:20
Speaker 1: aid me? When it flew at her throat, and laying
30:22
Speaker 1: fast hold of her, proceeded to carry her off. As
30:25
Speaker 1: she were a lambkin. She could neither cry nor aid
30:29
Speaker 1: herself on otherwise, so sore was her gullet straightened. Wherefore
30:33
Speaker 1: the wolf carrying her off would assuredly have throttled her,
30:36
Speaker 1: had he not encountered certain shepherds who shouted at him
30:39
Speaker 1: and constrained him to loose her. The shepherds knew her
30:43
Speaker 1: and carried her home in a piteous plight, where after
30:46
Speaker 1: long tending by the physicians. She was healed, yet not
30:49
Speaker 1: so holy, but she had all her throat and a
30:51
Speaker 1: part of her face marred on such wise that whereas
30:54
Speaker 1: before she was fair, she ever after appeared misfeatured and
30:58
Speaker 1: very foul of favor. Wherefore, being ashamed to appear whereas
31:02
Speaker 1: she might be seen, she many a time bitterly repented
31:05
Speaker 1: her of her forwardness and her perverse denial to put
31:08
Speaker 1: faith in a matter which cost her nothing. In her
31:10
Speaker 1: husband's true dream. The eighth story day the ninth Biondello
31:15
Speaker 1: cheateth Chaco of a dinner, whereof the other craftily avangeth himself,
31:19
Speaker 1: procuring him Teo be shamefully beaten. The merry company with
31:22
Speaker 1: one accord of vouched at which Talano had seen in sleep,
31:25
Speaker 1: to have been no dream but a vision, so punctually
31:28
Speaker 1: without their failing ought thereof had it come to pass.
31:32
Speaker 1: But all being silent, the queen charged Loretta follow on,
31:36
Speaker 1: who said, like as those most discreet ladies who have
31:39
Speaker 1: to day foregone me in speech, have been well nigh
31:42
Speaker 1: all moved to discourse by something already said. Even so,
31:45
Speaker 1: the stern vengeance wreaked by the scholar of whom Pampinia
31:48
Speaker 1: told us yesterday, moveth me to tell of a piece
31:51
Speaker 1: of revenge, which, without being so barbarous as the former,
31:55
Speaker 1: was nevertheless grievous unto him who brooked it. I must
31:59
Speaker 1: tell you then that there was once in Florence a
32:02
Speaker 1: man whom all called Chaco four hundred thirty five, as
32:05
Speaker 1: great a glutton as ever lived his means, sufficing him
32:09
Speaker 1: not to support the expense that his gluttony required any,
32:12
Speaker 1: being for the rest. A very well mannered man, and
32:15
Speaker 1: full of goodly and pleasant sayings. He addressed himself to
32:18
Speaker 1: be not altogether a buffoon, but a sponger four hundred
32:22
Speaker 1: thirty six, and to company with those who were rich
32:24
Speaker 1: and delighted to eat of good things, And with these
32:28
Speaker 1: he went often to dine and sup albeit he was
32:31
Speaker 1: not always bidden. There was likewise at Florence in those
32:35
Speaker 1: days a man called Biondello, a little dapper fellow of
32:38
Speaker 1: his person, very quaint of his dress, and sprucer than
32:41
Speaker 1: a fly, with his koif on his head and his
32:43
Speaker 1: yellow periwig still drayest to a nicety without a hair awry,
32:48
Speaker 1: who plied the same trade as Chaco. Going one morning
32:52
Speaker 1: in lent, whereas they sell the fish and cheapening two
32:55
Speaker 1: very fine lampreys from Messervii de search. He was seen
32:58
Speaker 1: by Chaco, who a car us did him, and said
33:01
Speaker 1: what meaneth this? Whereto Biondello made answer, yesterday there were
33:05
Speaker 1: sent unto Messer Corso do naughty three lampreys much finer
33:09
Speaker 1: than these, and a sturgeon, to which, sufficing him not
33:12
Speaker 1: for a dinner, he is minded to give certain gentlemen,
33:14
Speaker 1: he would have me by these other two? Wilt thou
33:17
Speaker 1: not come thither? Thou? Quoth Chaco, thou knowest well that
33:22
Speaker 1: I shall be there accordingly. When as it seemed to
33:25
Speaker 1: him time, he betook himself to Messer Corso's house, where
33:29
Speaker 1: he found him with sundry neighbors of his, not yet
33:31
Speaker 1: gone to dinner, and being asked of him what he
33:33
Speaker 1: went doing, answered sir, I am come to dine with
33:36
Speaker 1: you and your company, quoth Messer Corso, Thou art welcome,
33:41
Speaker 1: and as it is time, led us to table. Thereupon
33:45
Speaker 1: they seated themselves at table, and had to begin with
33:48
Speaker 1: chickpeas and pickle tunney, And after a dish of fried
33:51
Speaker 1: fish from the Arno, and no more Chaco, perceiving the
33:54
Speaker 1: cheat that Biondello had put upon him, was inwardly no
33:57
Speaker 1: little anger thereat, and resolved to pay him for it.
34:00
Speaker 1: Nor had many days passed, ere he again encountered the other,
34:04
Speaker 1: who had by this time made many folk merry with
34:07
Speaker 1: the trick he had played him. Biondello, seeing him, saluted
34:11
Speaker 1: him and asked him, laughing, how he had found Messer
34:14
Speaker 1: Corso's lampreys, to which Chaco answered that shalt thou know
34:18
Speaker 1: much better than i? Ere eight days be passed. Then,
34:22
Speaker 1: without wasting time over the matter, he took leave of Biondello, and,
34:26
Speaker 1: agreeing for a price with a shrewd huckster, carried him
34:29
Speaker 1: near to the Cavichuoli gallery, and, showing him a gentleman
34:32
Speaker 1: there called Messer Filippo Argenti, a big, burly, rawboned fellow
34:36
Speaker 1: and the most despiteful, choleric and humorsome man alive, gave
34:40
Speaker 1: him a great glass flagon and said to him, go
34:43
Speaker 1: to yonder gentleman, with this flask in hand, and say
34:45
Speaker 1: to him, Sir Biondello, sendeth me to you, and prayeth
34:48
Speaker 1: you be pleased to rubify him this flask with your
34:51
Speaker 1: good red wine, for that he would fain make merry
34:53
Speaker 1: some deal with his minions, but take good care he
34:57
Speaker 1: lay not his hands on thee. Else will he give
34:59
Speaker 1: thee an ill more? And thou wilt have marred my plans?
35:02
Speaker 1: Have I ought else to say? Ask the huckster, and
35:05
Speaker 1: Chaco answered, no, do but go and say this, and
35:08
Speaker 1: after come back to me here with the flask, and
35:10
Speaker 1: I will pay thee. The huckster accordingly set off and
35:14
Speaker 1: did his errand to Messer Filippo, who, hearing the message,
35:17
Speaker 1: and being lightly ruffled, concluded that Biondello, whom he knew,
35:21
Speaker 1: had a mind to make mock of him, and, waxing
35:24
Speaker 1: all red in a face, said what rubbify me? And
35:27
Speaker 1: what minions be? These? God land thee and him an
35:31
Speaker 1: ill year. Then, starting to his feet, he put out
35:35
Speaker 1: his hand to lay hold of the huckster, but the latter,
35:38
Speaker 1: who was on his guard, promptly took to his heels, and,
35:41
Speaker 1: returning by another way to Chaco, who had seen all
35:43
Speaker 1: that had passed, told him what Messer Filippo had said
35:46
Speaker 1: to him. Chaco, well pleased, paid him and rested not
35:50
Speaker 1: till he found Biondello, to whom quoth he hast thou
35:54
Speaker 1: been late at the Cavichuoli gallery. Nay, answered the other,
35:59
Speaker 1: Why dost thou thou ask me? Because, replied Chaco, I
36:03
Speaker 1: must tell THEE that Messer Filippo inquireth for THEE, I
36:06
Speaker 1: know not what he would have good, rejoined Biondello. I
36:11
Speaker 1: am going that way and will speak with him. Accordingly,
36:14
Speaker 1: he made off, and Chaco followed him to see how
36:17
Speaker 1: the thing should pass. Meanwhile, Messer Filippo, having failed to
36:22
Speaker 1: come at the huckster, abode sore disordered, and was inwardly
36:25
Speaker 1: all a fume with rage, being unable to make anything
36:28
Speaker 1: in the world of the huckster's words, if not that Biondello,
36:31
Speaker 1: at whosoever instance, was minded to make mock of him
36:35
Speaker 1: as he fretted himself. Thus up came Biondello, whom no
36:39
Speaker 1: sooner did he espy than he made for him, and
36:41
Speaker 1: dealt him a sore buffet in the face. Alack, Sir,
36:45
Speaker 1: cried Biondello, what is this? Whereupon Messer Filipo, clutching him
36:51
Speaker 1: by the hair and tearing his coif, cast his bonnet
36:53
Speaker 1: to the ground, and said, laying on to him amain
36:56
Speaker 1: the while nay that thou art, thou shalt soon see
36:59
Speaker 1: what it is? What is this thou sendest to say
37:02
Speaker 1: to me, with thy rubefay me and thy minions, deemest
37:06
Speaker 1: thou me a child to be flouted on this wise,
37:10
Speaker 1: so saying, he battered his whole face with his fists,
37:13
Speaker 1: which were like very iron, nor left him a hair
37:15
Speaker 1: on his head unruffled. Then rolling him in the mire,
37:18
Speaker 1: he tore all the clothes off his back. And to
37:21
Speaker 1: this he applied himself with such a will that Biondello
37:23
Speaker 1: could not avail to say a word to him, nor
37:25
Speaker 1: ask why he served him. Thus he had heard him,
37:29
Speaker 1: indeed speak of rubefay me and minions, but knew not
37:32
Speaker 1: what this meant. At last, Messer Filippo, having beaten him
37:37
Speaker 1: soundly the bystanders, whereof many had by this time gathered
37:41
Speaker 1: about them, dragged him, with the utmost difficulty out of
37:44
Speaker 1: the other's clutches, all bruised and battered as he was,
37:48
Speaker 1: and told him why the gentleman had done this, blaming
37:51
Speaker 1: him for that which he had sent to say to him,
37:53
Speaker 1: and telling him that he should by that time have known.
37:55
Speaker 1: Messer Filippo better, and that he was not a man
37:57
Speaker 1: to jest withal Biondella all in tears, protested his innocence,
38:02
Speaker 1: declaring that he had never sent to Messer Filipo for wine,
38:05
Speaker 1: And as soon as he was somewhat recovered, he returned
38:08
Speaker 1: home sick and sorry, divining that this must have been
38:11
Speaker 1: Chaco's doing. When, after many days the bruises being gone,
38:16
Speaker 1: he began to go abroad again, it chanced that Chaco
38:19
Speaker 1: encountered him and asked him, laughing herky Byandello, how deemest
38:23
Speaker 1: thou of Messer Filippo's wine, even as thou of Messer
38:27
Speaker 1: Corso's lampreys, replied the other, and Chaco said, the thing
38:31
Speaker 1: rest death with thee. Henceforth, whenever thou goest about to
38:35
Speaker 1: give me to eat, as thou didst, I will give
38:37
Speaker 1: thee in return to drink after t'other day's fashion. Byandello,
38:41
Speaker 1: knowing full well that it was easier to wish Chaco
38:44
Speaker 1: ill than to put it in practice, besought God of
38:46
Speaker 1: his peace four hundred and thirty seven, and thenceforth was
38:50
Speaker 1: careful to affront him no more. The ninth story day,
38:53
Speaker 1: the ninth two young men seek counsel of Solomon, one
38:56
Speaker 1: how he may be loved, and the other how he
38:58
Speaker 1: may amend his forward wife. And in answer he biddeth
39:01
Speaker 1: the one love and the other Getimtio gusebridge, none other
39:04
Speaker 1: than the Queen remaining to tell, so she would maintain
39:06
Speaker 1: Dionio his privilege. She, after the ladies had laughed at
39:10
Speaker 1: the unlucky Biandello, began blithely to speak, Thus, lovesome ladies.
39:15
Speaker 1: If the ordinance of created things be considered with a
39:18
Speaker 1: whole mind, it will lightly enough be seen that the
39:20
Speaker 1: general multitude of women are by nature, by custom and
39:24
Speaker 1: by laws objected unto men, and that it behoveth them
39:27
Speaker 1: order and govern themselves according to the discretion of these latter. Wherefore,
39:30
Speaker 1: each woman, who would have quiet and ease and solace
39:33
Speaker 1: with those men to whom she pertaineth, should be humble, patient,
39:37
Speaker 1: and obedient, besides being virtuous, which latter is the supreme
39:41
Speaker 1: and especial treasure of every wise woman. Nay, though the laws,
39:46
Speaker 1: which in all things regard the general weal and usance ore,
39:50
Speaker 1: let us say, custom, whose puiscence is both great and
39:53
Speaker 1: worship worth, taught us not this nature very manifestly showeth
39:57
Speaker 1: it unto us, inasmuch as she hath made us women
40:01
Speaker 1: tender and delicate of body, and timid and fearful of spirit,
40:04
Speaker 1: and hath given us little bodily strength, sweet voices, and
40:07
Speaker 1: soft and graceful movements, all things testifying that we have
40:10
Speaker 1: need of the governance of others. Now, those who have
40:14
Speaker 1: need to be helped and governed. All reason require that
40:16
Speaker 1: they be obedient and submissive and reverent to their governors.
40:19
Speaker 1: And whom have we to governors and helpers, if not
40:22
Speaker 1: men to men. Therefore it behooveth us submit ourselves, honoring
40:27
Speaker 1: them supremely. And whoso departeth from this, I hold her
40:31
Speaker 1: deserving not only of grave reprehension, but of severe punishment.
40:36
Speaker 1: To these considerations, I was lead, though not for the
40:39
Speaker 1: first time, by that which Pampinia told us a while ago,
40:42
Speaker 1: of Tolano's forward wife, upon whom God sent that chastisement
40:45
Speaker 1: which her husband had not known to give her. Wherefore,
40:48
Speaker 1: as I have already said, all those women who depart
40:51
Speaker 1: from being loving, compliant, and amenable as nature uisance and
40:56
Speaker 1: law will it are in my judgment worthy of stern
40:59
Speaker 1: and severe chastisement. It pleaseth me therefore to recount to
41:04
Speaker 1: you a council given by Solomon as a salutary medicine
41:07
Speaker 1: for curing women who are thus made of that malady
41:10
Speaker 1: which counsel let none who meriteth not such treatment repute
41:14
Speaker 1: to have been said for her. Albeit, men have a
41:17
Speaker 1: by word which seth good horse and bad horse. Both
41:20
Speaker 1: the spur need still, and women need the stick, both
41:23
Speaker 1: good and ill, which words an one seek to interpret
41:27
Speaker 1: them by way of pleasantry, all women will likely allow
41:30
Speaker 1: to be true. Nay, but considering them morally for one
41:33
Speaker 1: hundred thirty eight, I say that the same must be
41:36
Speaker 1: conceited of them, for that women are all naturally unstable
41:39
Speaker 1: and prone to frailty. Wherefore, to correct the iniquity of
41:43
Speaker 1: those who allow themselves too far to overpass the limits
41:46
Speaker 1: appointed them, there needeth the stick which punisheth them. And
41:50
Speaker 1: to support the virtue of others who suffer not themselves
41:52
Speaker 1: to transgress, there needeth the stick which sustaineth and afereth them.
41:57
Speaker 1: But to leave be preaching for the nons, and come
41:59
Speaker 1: to that which I have it in mind to tell. You.
42:02
Speaker 1: Must know that the high renown of Solomon's miraculous wisdom
42:06
Speaker 1: being brooded abroad well nigh throughout the whole world. No
42:09
Speaker 1: less than the liberality with which he dispensed it unto
42:12
Speaker 1: Huso would fain be certified thereof by experience. There flocked
42:16
Speaker 1: many to him from divers parts of the world for
42:19
Speaker 1: council in their straightest and most urgent occasions. Amongst others
42:23
Speaker 1: who thus resorted to him was a young man Melisso
42:26
Speaker 1: by name, a gentleman of noble birth and great wealth,
42:29
Speaker 1: who set out from the city of Lejatso four hundred
42:31
Speaker 1: and thirty nine whence he was and where he dwelt,
42:34
Speaker 1: And as he journeyed towards Jerusalem, it chanced that, coming
42:38
Speaker 1: forth of Antioch, he rode for some distance with a
42:41
Speaker 1: young man called Giosepho, who held the same course as himself.
42:46
Speaker 1: As the custom is of wayfarers, he entered into discourse
42:49
Speaker 1: with him, and having learned from him what and whence
42:51
Speaker 1: he was, he asked him whither he went and upon
42:53
Speaker 1: what occasion, to which Giosepho replied that he was on
42:57
Speaker 1: his way to Solomon, to have counsel of him what
42:59
Speaker 1: course he should should take with a wife. He had
43:01
Speaker 1: the most froward and perverse woman alive, whom neither with prayers,
43:05
Speaker 1: nor with blandishments, nor on any otherwise could he avail
43:09
Speaker 1: to correct of her waywardness. Then he, in his turn
43:12
Speaker 1: questioned Melisso whence he was, and whither he went? And
43:15
Speaker 1: on what errand? And he answered, I am of Lejatso,
43:18
Speaker 1: and like as thou hast a grievance, even so have
43:20
Speaker 1: I won. I am young and rich, and spend my
43:23
Speaker 1: substance in keeping open house and entertaining my fellow townsmen.
43:26
Speaker 1: And yet strange to say, I cannot, for all that
43:30
Speaker 1: find one who wisheth me well? Wherefore I go, whither
43:33
Speaker 1: thou goest to have counsel how I may win to
43:35
Speaker 1: be beloved. Accordingly they joined company and journeyed till they
43:40
Speaker 1: came to Jerusalem, where by the introduction of one of
43:43
Speaker 1: Solomon's barons, they were admitted to the presence of the king,
43:46
Speaker 1: to whom Melisso briefly set forth his occasion. Solomon answered
43:51
Speaker 1: him love, And this said Melisso was straightway put forth.
43:54
Speaker 1: And Giosepho told that for which he was there. Solomon
43:58
Speaker 1: made him no other answer than get thee to goose bridge,
44:01
Speaker 1: which said Giospho was on like wise removed without delay
44:06
Speaker 1: from the king's presence, and finding melisso awaiting him without
44:09
Speaker 1: told him that which he had had for answer. Thereupon,
44:13
Speaker 1: pondering Solomon's words, and availing to apprehend there from neither
44:16
Speaker 1: significance nor profit whatsoever for their occasions, they set out
44:20
Speaker 1: to return home, as deeming themselves flouted. After journeying for
44:24
Speaker 1: some days, they came to a river, over which was
44:27
Speaker 1: a fine bridge, and a caravan of pack mules and
44:30
Speaker 1: sumter horses, being in act to pass it, behold them
44:33
Speaker 1: tarry till such time as these should be crossed over.
44:36
Speaker 1: Presently the beasts having well nigh all crossed, it chanced
44:40
Speaker 1: that one of the mules took umbradge, as oftentimes we
44:43
Speaker 1: see them do, and would by no means pass on.
44:46
Speaker 1: Whereupon a muleteer taking a stick, began to beat it,
44:49
Speaker 1: at first moderately enough to make it go on. But
44:52
Speaker 1: the mules shied now to this and now to that
44:55
Speaker 1: side of the road, and wiles turned back altogether, but
44:57
Speaker 1: would on no wise pass on, where upon the man,
45:00
Speaker 1: incense beyond measure, fell to dealing it with the stick,
45:03
Speaker 1: the heaviest blows in the world, now on the head,
45:06
Speaker 1: now on the flanks, and anon on the crupper, but
45:09
Speaker 1: all to no purpose. Melisso and Giosepho stood watching this,
45:13
Speaker 1: and said often to the muleteer, alack wretch, that thou art,
45:17
Speaker 1: what dost thou wilt thou kill the beast? Why studiest
45:22
Speaker 1: thou not to manage him by fair means and gentle dealing?
45:26
Speaker 1: He will come quicklier than for cudgeling him, as thou dost,
45:30
Speaker 1: to which the man answered, you know your horses, and
45:32
Speaker 1: I know my mule. Leave me do with him, so saying,
45:36
Speaker 1: he fell again to cudgeling him and belabored him to
45:38
Speaker 1: such purpose on one side and on the other, that
45:41
Speaker 1: the mule passed on and the muleteer won about. Then
45:45
Speaker 1: the two young men, being now about to depart, Giosepho
45:48
Speaker 1: asked a poor man who sat at the bridge head
45:51
Speaker 1: how the place was called, and he answered, sir, this
45:54
Speaker 1: is called Goosebridge. When Giosepho heard this, he straightway called
45:59
Speaker 1: to mind Solomon's words and said to Melisso, Mary, I
46:03
Speaker 1: tell thee comrade that the council given me by Solomon
46:06
Speaker 1: may well prove good and true. For I perceive very
46:08
Speaker 1: plainly that I knew not how to beat my wife,
46:11
Speaker 1: But this muleteer hath shown me what I have to do. Accordingly,
46:15
Speaker 1: they fared on and came after some days to Antioch,
46:19
Speaker 1: where Giosepho kept Melisso with him that he might rest
46:22
Speaker 1: himself a day or two, And, being scurvily enough received
46:26
Speaker 1: of his wife, he bade her prepare supper according as
46:28
Speaker 1: Melisso should ordain. Whereof the latter, seeing that it was
46:32
Speaker 1: his friend's pleasure, acquitted himself in a few words. The lady,
46:37
Speaker 1: as her usance had been in the past, did not
46:39
Speaker 1: as Melisso had ordained, but wellnigh altogether the contrary which Giosepho,
46:44
Speaker 1: seeing he was vexed, and said, was it not told
46:47
Speaker 1: THEE on what wise thou shouldst prepare the supper? The lady,
46:51
Speaker 1: turning round, haughtily answered, what meaneth this good lack? Why
46:56
Speaker 1: dost thou not sup? And thou have a mind to sup?
47:00
Speaker 1: And if it were told me otherwise, it seemed good
47:02
Speaker 1: to me to do. Thus, if it pleased THEE, so
47:06
Speaker 1: be it. If not leave it be Melisso marveled that
47:10
Speaker 1: the lady's answer, and blamed her exceedingly, whilst Giosepho, hearing this, said, wife,
47:15
Speaker 1: thou art still what thou wast wont to be. But
47:18
Speaker 1: trust me I will make THEE change thy fashion. Then,
47:22
Speaker 1: turning to Melisso, friend said he we shall soon see
47:25
Speaker 1: what manner of counsel was Solomon's. But I prithee let
47:28
Speaker 1: it not irk THEE to stand to see it, and
47:30
Speaker 1: hold that which I shall do for a sport, and
47:33
Speaker 1: that thou mayest not hinder me bethink thee of the
47:35
Speaker 1: answer the muleteer made us when we pitied his mule,
47:39
Speaker 1: quoth Melisso, I am in thy house, where I purpose
47:42
Speaker 1: not to depart from thy good pleasure. Giospho then took
47:46
Speaker 1: a round stick made of a young oak and repaired
47:49
Speaker 1: a chamber, whither the lady, having arisen from table, for
47:52
Speaker 1: despite had bade akin herself grumbling. Then, laying hold of
47:56
Speaker 1: her by the hair, he threw her down at his
47:59
Speaker 1: feet and proceeded to give her a sore beating with
48:02
Speaker 1: the stick. The lady at first cried out and after
48:05
Speaker 1: fell to threats, but seeing that Giospho, for all that
48:08
Speaker 1: stinted not in, being, by this time all bruised. She
48:11
Speaker 1: began to cry him mercy for God's sake, and besought
48:14
Speaker 1: him not to kill her, declaring that she would never
48:17
Speaker 1: more depart from his pleasure. Nevertheless, he held not his hand. Nay,
48:22
Speaker 1: he continued to baste her more furiously than ever, on
48:25
Speaker 1: all her seams, belaboring her main, now on the ribs,
48:29
Speaker 1: now on the haunches, and now about the shoulder. Nor
48:32
Speaker 1: stinted till he was weary, and there was not a
48:34
Speaker 1: place left unbruised on the good lady's back. This done,
48:38
Speaker 1: he returned to his friend and said to him tomorrow
48:41
Speaker 1: we shall see what will be the issue of the
48:43
Speaker 1: council to go to Goosebridge. Then, after he had rested
48:47
Speaker 1: awhile and they had washed their hands, he supped with Melisso,
48:50
Speaker 1: and in due season they betook themselves to bed. Meanwhile,
48:54
Speaker 1: the wretched lady arose with great pain from the ground,
48:56
Speaker 1: and casting herself on the bed, there rested as best
48:59
Speaker 1: she might, until the morning, when she arose betimes and
49:02
Speaker 1: let ask Giosepho what he would have dressed for dinner,
49:06
Speaker 1: the latter, making merry over this with Melisso, appointed it
49:09
Speaker 1: in due course, and after when as it was time returning,
49:13
Speaker 1: they found everything excellently well done and in accordance with
49:16
Speaker 1: the ordinance given, wherefore they mightily commended the council. At
49:19
Speaker 1: first so ill apprehended of them. After some days, Melisso
49:23
Speaker 1: took leave of Giosepho, and, returning to his own house,
49:27
Speaker 1: told one who was a man of understanding the answer
49:30
Speaker 1: he had had from Solomon. Whereupon quoth the other he
49:33
Speaker 1: could have given THEE no truer nor better counsel. Thou knowest,
49:37
Speaker 1: thou lovest no one, and the honors and services thou
49:40
Speaker 1: renderest others. Thou dost not for love that thou bearest them,
49:43
Speaker 1: but for pomp and ostentation love. Then, as Solomon bade THEE,
49:49
Speaker 1: and thou shalt be loved on this wise, then was
49:53
Speaker 1: the froward wife corrected, and the young man loving was beloved.
49:58
Speaker 1: The tenth story day, the ninth dam John, at the
50:00
Speaker 1: instance of his gossip, Pietro performeth a conjuration for the
50:04
Speaker 1: purpose of causing the latter's wife Teo, become a mayor.
50:07
Speaker 1: But when as he cometh Theo put on the tail,
50:09
Speaker 1: Pietro merit the whole conjuration, saying that he will not
50:14
Speaker 1: have a tale. The queen's story made the young men
50:16
Speaker 1: laugh and gave rise to some murmurs on the part
50:18
Speaker 1: of the ladies. Then, as soon as the latter were quiet,
50:21
Speaker 1: Dionio began to speak, Thus, sprightly ladies, a black crow
50:25
Speaker 1: amongst a multitude of white doves addeth more beauty than
50:28
Speaker 1: what a snow white swan, And in like manner among
50:32
Speaker 1: many sages, one less wise is not only an augmentation
50:35
Speaker 1: of splendor and goodliness to their maturity, but eke a
50:37
Speaker 1: source of diversion in solace. Wherefore, you, ladies, being all
50:42
Speaker 1: exceeding discreet and modest, I who savor somewhat of the scatterbrain,
50:46
Speaker 1: should be dearer to you, causing, as I do, you're
50:49
Speaker 1: worth to shine the brightly air for my default than
50:52
Speaker 1: if with my greater merit I made this of yours
50:54
Speaker 1: wax dimmer. And consequently I should have larger license to
50:59
Speaker 1: show you myself such as I am, and should more
51:01
Speaker 1: patiently be suffered of you in saying that which I
51:04
Speaker 1: shall say than if I were wiser. I will therefore
51:08
Speaker 1: tell you a story not over long, whereby you may
51:11
Speaker 1: apprehend how diligently. It behoveth to observe the conditions imposed
51:15
Speaker 1: by those who do ought by means of enchantment, and
51:17
Speaker 1: how slight a default thereof sufficeth to mar everything done
51:20
Speaker 1: by the magician. A year or two agone, there was
51:23
Speaker 1: at Barletta a priest called dom Johnny d Barolo. For
51:27
Speaker 1: that he had but a poor cure, took to eking
51:29
Speaker 1: out his livelihood by hawking merchandise hither and thither about
51:32
Speaker 1: the fairs of Apulia with a mare of his, and
51:34
Speaker 1: buying and selling. In the course of his travels, he
51:38
Speaker 1: contracted a straight friendship with one who styled himself Pietro
51:41
Speaker 1: to trays Antai, and plied the same trade with the
51:43
Speaker 1: aid of an ass he had in token of friendship
51:47
Speaker 1: and affection. He called him still gossip Pietro, after the
51:50
Speaker 1: Apulian fashion, And whensoever he visited Barletta, he carried him
51:54
Speaker 1: to his parsonage, and there lodged him with himself, and
51:56
Speaker 1: entertained him, to the best of his power, gossip Pietro.
52:00
Speaker 1: On his part, albeit he was very poor and had
52:03
Speaker 1: but a sorry little house at trace Anti, scarce, sufficing
52:06
Speaker 1: for himself, and a young and buxom wife he had
52:09
Speaker 1: in his ass. As often as Dom Johnny came to
52:11
Speaker 1: trace Anti, carried him home with him, and entertained him
52:14
Speaker 1: as best he might in requital of the hospitality received
52:17
Speaker 1: from him at Barletta. Nevertheless, in the matter of lodging,
52:22
Speaker 1: having but one sorry little bed in which he slept
52:25
Speaker 1: with his handsome wife, he could not entertain him as
52:27
Speaker 1: he would. But Dom Johnny's mare, being lodged with Pietro's
52:31
Speaker 1: as in a little stable he had needs, must the
52:33
Speaker 1: priest himself lie by her side on a truss of straw.
52:37
Speaker 1: The good wife, knowing the hospitality which the latter did
52:40
Speaker 1: her husband at Barletta, would more than once, when as
52:43
Speaker 1: the priest came thither, have gone to lie with a
52:46
Speaker 1: neighbor of hers by name Zida Karapri's daughter of judicae Leo,
52:50
Speaker 1: so he might sleep in the bed with her husband,
52:53
Speaker 1: and had many a time proposed it to dom Johnny,
52:56
Speaker 1: but he would never hear of it, And once, amongst
52:59
Speaker 1: other times, he said to her gossip, Jemada, fret not
53:02
Speaker 1: thyself for me. I fare very well for that, when
53:06
Speaker 1: as it pleaseth me, I cause this mare of mine
53:08
Speaker 1: become a handsome wench in couch with her, and after
53:11
Speaker 1: when I will I change her into a mare again?
53:14
Speaker 1: Wherefore I care not to part from her. The young
53:17
Speaker 1: woman marveled but believed his tale, and told her husband, saying,
53:21
Speaker 1: if he is so much thy friend, as thou sayest,
53:24
Speaker 1: why dost thou not make him teach thee his charm?
53:27
Speaker 1: So thou mayst avail to make of me a mare,
53:29
Speaker 1: and do thine affairs with the ass and the mare,
53:32
Speaker 1: so should we gain two for one? And when we
53:34
Speaker 1: were back at home, thou couldst make me a woman
53:36
Speaker 1: again as I am. Pietro, who was somewhat dull of wit,
53:41
Speaker 1: believed what she said. In falling in with her counsel,
53:44
Speaker 1: began as best he knew, to importune Don Johnny to
53:47
Speaker 1: teach him the trick. The latter did his best to
53:50
Speaker 1: cure him of that folly, but availing not there too,
53:53
Speaker 1: he said, harkye, since you will e'en have it, so
53:56
Speaker 1: we will arise to morrow morning before day, as of
53:59
Speaker 1: our wont and I will show you how it is
54:01
Speaker 1: done to tell thee the truth. The uneatest part of
54:05
Speaker 1: the matter is the putting on of the tale, as
54:07
Speaker 1: thou shalt see accordingly. When as it drew near unto day,
54:11
Speaker 1: Goodman Pietro and gossip Jemada, who had scarce, slept that
54:15
Speaker 1: night with such impatience did they await the accomplishment of
54:18
Speaker 1: the matter, arose and called dom Janni, who, arising in
54:22
Speaker 1: his shirt, betook himself to Pietro's little chamber and said
54:25
Speaker 1: to him, I know none in the world except you
54:29
Speaker 1: for whom I would do this. Wherefore, since it pleaseth you,
54:32
Speaker 1: I will e'en doo it. But needs must you do
54:34
Speaker 1: as I shall bid you, and ye would have the
54:36
Speaker 1: thing succeed. They answered that they would do that which
54:40
Speaker 1: he should say, Whereupon, taking the light, he put it
54:43
Speaker 1: into Pietro's hand and said to him, mark how I
54:46
Speaker 1: shall do, and keep well in mind that which I
54:48
Speaker 1: shall say. Above all have a care an thou wouldst
54:52
Speaker 1: not mar everything that whatsoever thou hearest, or sayest thou
54:56
Speaker 1: say not a single word, and pray God that the
54:59
Speaker 1: tale may stick fact. Pietro took the light, promising to
55:03
Speaker 1: do exactly as he said, whereupon Dom Johnny let strip
55:06
Speaker 1: jem Auton naked as she was born, and caused her
55:08
Speaker 1: stand on all fours mere fashion, enjoining herself likewise not
55:13
Speaker 1: to utter a word, for aught that should be tied. Then,
55:16
Speaker 1: passing his hand over her face and her head, he
55:19
Speaker 1: proceeded to say, be this a fine mare's head, and
55:22
Speaker 1: touching her hair, said be this a fine mare's mane,
55:25
Speaker 1: after which he touched her arms, saying be these fine
55:29
Speaker 1: mare's legs and feet, And coming presently to her breast,
55:32
Speaker 1: and finding it round and firm, such an one awoke
55:35
Speaker 1: that was not called, and started up on end four
55:38
Speaker 1: hundred forty, whereupon quoth he be this a fine mare's chest.
55:43
Speaker 1: Anon Likewise he did with her back and belly, and crupper,
55:46
Speaker 1: and thighs and legs. Ultimately nothing remaining to do but
55:50
Speaker 1: the tail. He pulled up his shirt, and taking the
55:53
Speaker 1: dibble with which he planted men, he thrust it hastily
55:56
Speaker 1: into the furrow made there fore, and said, and be
55:58
Speaker 1: this a fine mare's tail. Pietro, who had thitherto watched
56:02
Speaker 1: everything intently, seeing this last proceeding in him, seeming it
56:06
Speaker 1: was ill done, said, ho, there, Dom Johnny, I won't
56:09
Speaker 1: have a tail there. I won't have a tail there.
56:12
Speaker 1: The radical moisture, wherewith all plants are made fast was
56:16
Speaker 1: by this come and dom Johnny drew it forth, saying
56:19
Speaker 1: black gossip. Pietro, what hast thou done? Did I not
56:24
Speaker 1: bid thee say not a word for aught that thou
56:26
Speaker 1: shouldst see? The mayor was all made, but thou hast
56:30
Speaker 1: marred everything by talking. Nor is there any means of
56:32
Speaker 1: doing it over again? Henceforth, quoth Pietro, Marry, I did
56:37
Speaker 1: not want that tale there. Why did you not say
56:40
Speaker 1: to me make it thou more by token that you
56:43
Speaker 1: were for setting it too low? Because answered dom Johnny,
56:48
Speaker 1: thou hadst not known for the first time to set
56:50
Speaker 1: it on so well as I. The young woman, hearing
56:52
Speaker 1: all this, stood up and said to her husband, in
56:55
Speaker 1: all good faith, dolt that thou art. Why hast thou
56:58
Speaker 1: marred thine affairs? And mind what mayor sawest thou ever
57:02
Speaker 1: without a tale? So God aid me, thou art poor,
57:06
Speaker 1: but it would serve THEE right. Wert thou much poorer? Then?
57:10
Speaker 1: There being now by reason of the words that Pietro
57:13
Speaker 1: had spoken, no longer any means of making a mare
57:16
Speaker 1: of the young woman. She donned her clothes, woe begone
57:19
Speaker 1: and disconsolate, and Pietro continuing to ply his old trade
57:23
Speaker 1: with an ass as he was used, betook himself in
57:27
Speaker 1: company with dom Johnny to the beitonto Fair, nor ever
57:30
Speaker 1: again required him of such a service. How much the
57:34
Speaker 1: company laughed at this story, which was better understood of
57:36
Speaker 1: the ladies than Dionia willed, let her, who shall yet
57:39
Speaker 1: laugh thereat imagine for herself. But the day's stories being
57:44
Speaker 1: now ended, and the sun beginning to abate of its heat,
57:46
Speaker 1: the Queen, knowing the end of her scenery to become,
57:49
Speaker 1: rose to her feet, and, putting off the crown, set
57:52
Speaker 1: it on the head of Pamphalo, whom alone it remained
57:55
Speaker 1: to honor after such a fashion, and said, smiling, my lord,
57:59
Speaker 1: there devolveth on d a great burden, inasmuch as with
58:02
Speaker 1: thee at reast death, thou being the last to make
58:05
Speaker 1: amends for my default and that of those who have
58:07
Speaker 1: forgotten me, in the dignity which thou presently holdest, whereof
58:10
Speaker 1: God lend thee grace. Even as he hath vouchsafed it
58:13
Speaker 1: unto me to make thee king Panfhalo blithely received the
58:17
Speaker 1: honor done him, and answered, your merit and that of
58:20
Speaker 1: my other subjects, will do on such wise, that I
58:22
Speaker 1: shall be a judged deserving of commendation, even as the
58:25
Speaker 1: others have been. Then, having according to the usance of
58:29
Speaker 1: his predecessors, taken order with the senesial of the things
58:32
Speaker 1: that were needful, he turned to the expectant ladies and
58:35
Speaker 1: said to them, lovesome ladies, it was the pleasure of Amelia,
58:38
Speaker 1: who hath this day been our queen, to give you,
58:41
Speaker 1: for the purpose of affording some rest to your powers,
58:44
Speaker 1: license to discourse of that which should most please you. Wherefore, you,
58:48
Speaker 1: being now rested, I hold it well to return to
58:51
Speaker 1: the wanted ordinance. And accordingly I will that each of
58:54
Speaker 1: you bethink herself to discourse to morrow of this to
58:56
Speaker 1: wit of whoso hath anywise wrought generously or magnific in
59:00
Speaker 1: matters of love or otherwise, the telling and doing of
59:04
Speaker 1: these things will doubtless fire your well disposed minds to
59:07
Speaker 1: do worthily. So will our life, which may not be
59:09
Speaker 1: other than brief in this mortal body, be made perpetual
59:12
Speaker 1: and laudatory renown, a thing which all who served not
59:16
Speaker 1: the belly only as do the beasts, should not only desire,
59:20
Speaker 1: but with all diligence seek and endeavor. After the theme
59:24
Speaker 1: pleased the joyous company, who, having all with the new
59:27
Speaker 1: King's license, risen from session, gave themselves to their wonted
59:31
Speaker 1: diversions according to that unto which each was most drawn
59:34
Speaker 1: by desire. And on this wise they did until the
59:37
Speaker 1: hour of supper, whereunto they came joyously and were served
59:41
Speaker 1: with diligence and fair ordinance. Supper. At an end they
59:46
Speaker 1: arose to the wanted dances, And after they had sung
59:48
Speaker 1: a thousand canzonets, more diverting of words than masterly of music,
59:53
Speaker 1: the King bade neophiles sing one in her own name, whereupon,
59:56
Speaker 1: with clear and blithesome voice, she cheers erfully, and without
1:00:00
Speaker 1: delay began. Thus a youngling made am I and full
1:00:03
Speaker 1: of glee, Ay am fain to carol in the new
1:00:06
Speaker 1: blown may love and sweet thoughts, mercy, blithe and free.
1:00:10
Speaker 1: I go about the meads, considering the vermal flowers and golden,
1:00:14
Speaker 1: and the white rose as thorn set, and lily snowy bright,
1:00:17
Speaker 1: and one and all I fare a likening unto his face,
1:00:20
Speaker 1: who hath with love liking tain, and will hold me ever,
1:00:23
Speaker 1: having I none other wish than as his pleasures be
1:00:26
Speaker 1: whereof when one I find me that doth show unto
1:00:29
Speaker 1: my seeming, likest him full fain, I cull and kiss
1:00:33
Speaker 1: and talk with it a main and all my heart
1:00:35
Speaker 1: to it, as best I know discover with its store
1:00:38
Speaker 1: of wish and woe than it with others in a wreath.
1:00:40
Speaker 1: I lay bound, with my hair so golden, bright of blee.
1:00:44
Speaker 1: I and that pleasure which the eye doth prove by
1:00:47
Speaker 1: nature of the flower's view like delight doth give me.
1:00:50
Speaker 1: As I saw the very white who hath inflamed me
1:00:53
Speaker 1: of his dolcet love, and what it sent thereover and
1:00:55
Speaker 1: above worketh in me. No words indeed can say, but
1:00:59
Speaker 1: sighs thereof bare witness true for me, the which from
1:01:01
Speaker 1: out my bosom day nor nightmare, as with other ladies
1:01:06
Speaker 1: fierce and wild storm up Nay, thence they issue warm
1:01:09
Speaker 1: and mild and straight. Betake them to my loved one's sight, who,
1:01:13
Speaker 1: hearing moveeth of himself delight to give me I. And
1:01:17
Speaker 1: when I am like to say, ah, come lest I
1:01:19
Speaker 1: despair still cometh he Neophile's canson. It was much commended
1:01:24
Speaker 1: both of the King and of the other ladies, after
1:01:27
Speaker 1: which for that a great part of the night was
1:01:29
Speaker 1: now spent. The king commanded that all should betake themselves
1:01:32
Speaker 1: to rest until the day here in depth the ninth
1:01:35
Speaker 1: day of the Decameron, day the tenth here beginneth the
1:01:37
Speaker 1: tenth and last day of the Decameron, wherein under the
1:01:40
Speaker 1: governance of Pamphalo is discoursed of Whuso hath anywise wrought
1:01:43
Speaker 1: generously or magnificently in matters of love or other. What
1:01:46
Speaker 1: certain cloudlets in the west were yet vermal, What time
1:01:50
Speaker 1: those of the east were already at their marches, grown
1:01:53
Speaker 1: loocent like unto very gold. When Pamphalo, arising, let call
1:01:57
Speaker 1: his comrades and the ladies, who being all come, He
1:02:00
Speaker 1: took counsel with them of whither they should go for
1:02:02
Speaker 1: their diversion, and fared forth with slow step, accompanied by
1:02:05
Speaker 1: Philamina and Fiametta, whilst all the others followed after on
1:02:11
Speaker 1: this wise, devising and telling and answering many things of
1:02:14
Speaker 1: their future life. Together they went a great while a pleasuring. Then,
1:02:18
Speaker 1: having made a pretty long circuit, and the sun beginning
1:02:20
Speaker 1: to wax over hot, they returned to the palace. There
1:02:24
Speaker 1: they let rinse the beakers in the clear fountain, and
1:02:26
Speaker 1: Huso would drank somewhat, after which they went frolicking among
1:02:30
Speaker 1: the pleasant shades of the garden until the eating hour. Then,
1:02:34
Speaker 1: having eaten and slept as of their wont they assembled
1:02:37
Speaker 1: whereas it pleased the King, and there he called upon
1:02:39
Speaker 1: Neophile for the first discourse, who blithely began thus the
1:02:43
Speaker 1: first story day the tenth they knight in the King's
1:02:45
Speaker 1: service of Spain, thinking himself ill, girdoned the king by
1:02:49
Speaker 1: very certain proof showeth him that this is not his fault,
1:02:52
Speaker 1: but that of his own perverse fortune, And after largesseth
1:02:55
Speaker 1: him magnificently needs, honorable ladies, must I repute it a
1:02:59
Speaker 1: singular faith to myself that our King hath preferred me
1:03:02
Speaker 1: unto such an honor as it is to be the
1:03:04
Speaker 1: first to tell of magnificence, the which, even as the
1:03:07
Speaker 1: sun is the glory and adornment of all the heaven,
1:03:10
Speaker 1: is the light and luster of every other virtue. I
1:03:13
Speaker 1: will therefore tell you a little story thereof quaint and
1:03:17
Speaker 1: pleasant enough to my thinking, which to recall concertes be
1:03:20
Speaker 1: none other than useful. You must know, then, that among
1:03:25
Speaker 1: the other gallant gentlemen who have from time immemorial graced
1:03:28
Speaker 1: our city, there was one, and maybe the most of worth,
1:03:31
Speaker 1: by name Messer Ruggieri de Figiovanni, who, being both rich
1:03:35
Speaker 1: and high spirited, and seeing that in view of the
1:03:37
Speaker 1: way of living and of the usages of Tuscany, he
1:03:40
Speaker 1: might if he tarried there a veil to display little
1:03:44
Speaker 1: or nothing of his merit, resolved to seek service a
1:03:47
Speaker 1: while with Alfonso, King of Spain, the renown of whose
1:03:50
Speaker 1: valiance transcended that of every other prince of his time.
1:03:53
Speaker 1: Wherefore he betook himself very honorably furnished with arms and
1:03:57
Speaker 1: horses and followers to Alfonso in Spain, and was by
1:04:00
Speaker 1: him graciously received. Accordingly, he took up his abode there, and,
1:04:05
Speaker 1: living splendidly and doing marvelous deeds of arms, he very
1:04:08
Speaker 1: soon made himself known for a man of worth and valor.
1:04:12
Speaker 1: When he had sojourned there a pretty while and had
1:04:14
Speaker 1: taken particular note of the king's fashions, him seemed he
1:04:17
Speaker 1: bestowed castles and cities and baronies, now upon one and
1:04:21
Speaker 1: now upon another, with little enough discretion as giving them
1:04:24
Speaker 1: to those who were unworthy thereof, and for that to
1:04:26
Speaker 1: him who held himself for that which he was nothing
1:04:29
Speaker 1: was given. He conceived that his repute would be much
1:04:33
Speaker 1: abetted by reason thereof, wherefore he determined to depart and
1:04:36
Speaker 1: craved leave of the King. The latter granted him the
1:04:39
Speaker 1: leave he sought, and gave him one of the best
1:04:41
Speaker 1: and finest mules that ever was ridden, the which for
1:04:44
Speaker 1: the long journey he had to make, was very acceptable
1:04:47
Speaker 1: to Messer Rugieri. Moreover, he charged a discreet servant of
1:04:52
Speaker 1: his that he should study, by such means as seemed
1:04:54
Speaker 1: to him best, to ride with Messer Rugieri on such
1:04:57
Speaker 1: wise that he should not appear to have been sent
1:04:59
Speaker 1: by the king, and note everything he should say of him,
1:05:02
Speaker 1: so as he might availed to repeat it to him,
1:05:05
Speaker 1: and that on the ensuing morning he should command him
1:05:07
Speaker 1: return to the court. Accordingly, the servant, lying in wait
1:05:11
Speaker 1: for Messer Roggieri's departure, accosted him as he came forth
1:05:15
Speaker 1: the city, and very aptly joined company with him, giving
1:05:19
Speaker 1: him to understand that he also was bound for Italy.
1:05:22
Speaker 1: Messer Rougieri then fared on riding the mule given him
1:05:26
Speaker 1: by the King, and devising of one thing and another
1:05:28
Speaker 1: with the latter servant till hard upon tearce when he
1:05:32
Speaker 1: said methinketh it were well done to let our beasts staal. Accordingly,
1:05:37
Speaker 1: they put them up in a stable, and they all
1:05:38
Speaker 1: stailed except the mule. Then they rode on again, whilst
1:05:42
Speaker 1: the squire still took note of the gentleman's words, and
1:05:45
Speaker 1: came presently to a river, where as they watered their cattle.
1:05:48
Speaker 1: The mule stailed in a stream, which Messer Rugieri seen marry,
1:05:52
Speaker 1: quoth he God confound thee beast, for that thou art
1:05:57
Speaker 1: made after the same fashion as the prince who gave
1:05:59
Speaker 1: thee to me. The squire noted these words, and albeit
1:06:03
Speaker 1: he took store of many others. As he journeyed with
1:06:05
Speaker 1: him all that day, he heard him say nought else,
1:06:08
Speaker 1: but what was to the highest praise of the King.
1:06:11
Speaker 1: Next morning, they being mounted, and Rugiery offering to ride
1:06:14
Speaker 1: towards Tuscany, the squire imparted to him the King's commandment,
1:06:18
Speaker 1: whereupon he, incontinent, turned back. When he arrived at court,
1:06:22
Speaker 1: the King, learning what he had said of the mule,
1:06:25
Speaker 1: let call him to himself, and, receiving him with a
1:06:27
Speaker 1: cheerful favor, asked him why he had likened him to
1:06:30
Speaker 1: his mule, or rather why he had likened the mule
1:06:32
Speaker 1: to him, my lord replied Rugieri, frankly, I likened her
1:06:37
Speaker 1: to you for that like as you give whereas it
1:06:39
Speaker 1: behoveth not, and give not whereas it behoveth. Even so
1:06:42
Speaker 1: she stailed not whereas it behooved, but staled whereas it
1:06:45
Speaker 1: behooved not. Then said the King Messer Rougieri. If I
1:06:49
Speaker 1: have not given to you as I have given unto
1:06:52
Speaker 1: many who are of no account in comparison with you,
1:06:55
Speaker 1: it happened not because I knew you, not for a
1:06:57
Speaker 1: most valiant cavalier and worthy of every great gift. Nay,
1:07:00
Speaker 1: but it is your fortune which hath not suffered me.
1:07:03
Speaker 1: Girden you according to your deserts, that hath sinned in
1:07:06
Speaker 1: this and not I, And that I may say sooth
1:07:09
Speaker 1: I will manifestly prove to you, my lord replied Rugiery.
1:07:14
Speaker 1: I was not chagrined because I have got no largesse
1:07:16
Speaker 1: of you, for that I desire not to be richer
1:07:19
Speaker 1: than I am. But because you have on no wise
1:07:21
Speaker 1: born witness to my merit knaveless, I hold your excuse
1:07:25
Speaker 1: for good and honorable, and am ready to see that
1:07:28
Speaker 1: which it shall please you show me. Albeit I believe
1:07:30
Speaker 1: you without proof. The king then carried him into a
1:07:34
Speaker 1: great hall of his, where as he had ordered it beforehand,
1:07:37
Speaker 1: were two great locked coffers, and said to him, in
1:07:40
Speaker 1: presence of many, Messer Rougieri, in one of these coffers
1:07:44
Speaker 1: is my crown, the royal scepter, and the orb, together
1:07:47
Speaker 1: with many goodly girdles and ouchs and rings of mine,
1:07:50
Speaker 1: and in fine every precious jewel I have, and the
1:07:53
Speaker 1: other is full of earth. Take then, one, and be
1:07:57
Speaker 1: that which you shall take yours, and you may thus
1:07:59
Speaker 1: see whether of the twain hath been ungrateful to your
1:08:02
Speaker 1: worth myself of your ill fortune. Messer Rugieri, seeing that
1:08:06
Speaker 1: it was the king's pleasure, took one of the coffers, which,
1:08:10
Speaker 1: being opened by Alphonso's commandment, was found to be that
1:08:13
Speaker 1: which was full of earth. Whereupon quoth the King, laughing,
1:08:17
Speaker 1: Now can you see, Messer Rugieri, that this that I
1:08:20
Speaker 1: tell you of your fortune is true? But cerde is
1:08:23
Speaker 1: your worth? Meritath that I should oppose myself to her might.
1:08:27
Speaker 1: I know you have no mind to turn Spaniard, and
1:08:29
Speaker 1: therefore I will bestow upon you neither castle nor city
1:08:32
Speaker 1: in these parts, but this coffer, of which fortune deprived you.
1:08:36
Speaker 1: I will in her despite shall be yours, so you
1:08:39
Speaker 1: may carry it off to your own country and justly
1:08:41
Speaker 1: glorify yourself of your worth in the sight of your
1:08:43
Speaker 1: countrymen by the witness of my gifts. Messer Rugieri accordingly
1:08:48
Speaker 1: took the coffer, and, having rendered the king those thanks
1:08:50
Speaker 1: which sorted with such a gift, joyfully returned therewith to Tuscany.
1:08:55
Speaker 1: The second story day, the tenth Gayno di i Taco
1:08:58
Speaker 1: taketh the Abbot of Clooney, and having cured him of
1:09:00
Speaker 1: the stomach complaint, letteth him go, whereupon the abbot, returning
1:09:04
Speaker 1: to the court of Rome, reconcileth him with Pope Bonifice
1:09:08
Speaker 1: and mocketh him a prior of the hospitalers. The magnificence
1:09:11
Speaker 1: shown by King Alfonso to the Florentine cavalier, having been
1:09:15
Speaker 1: duly commended the king, who had been mightily pleased, therewith
1:09:18
Speaker 1: enjoined Elsa to follow on, and she straightway began Thus,
1:09:22
Speaker 1: Dainty Dames, it cannot be denied that for a king
1:09:26
Speaker 1: to be munificent, and to have shown his munificence to
1:09:28
Speaker 1: him who had served him as a great and a
1:09:30
Speaker 1: praiseworthy thing But what shall we say if a churchman
1:09:33
Speaker 1: be related to have practiced marvelous magnanimity towards one whom
1:09:36
Speaker 1: if he had used as an enemy, he had of
1:09:38
Speaker 1: none been blamed. Therefore, cerdees, we can say none otherwise
1:09:43
Speaker 1: than that the king's magnificence was a virtue, whilst that
1:09:46
Speaker 1: of the churchmen was a miracle. Inasmuch as the clergy
1:09:49
Speaker 1: are all exceeding niggardly, nay far more so than women,
1:09:52
Speaker 1: and sworn enemies of all manner of liberality, and albeit
1:09:56
Speaker 1: all men naturally hunger after vengeance for affronts received, we
1:09:59
Speaker 1: seech churchmen for all they preach patients, and especially commend
1:10:04
Speaker 1: the remission offenses, pursue it more eagerly than other folk. This, then,
1:10:09
Speaker 1: to wit how a churchman was magnanimous, you may manifestly
1:10:13
Speaker 1: learn from the following story of mine Gino di Taco,
1:10:17
Speaker 1: a man very famous for his cruelty and his robberies.
1:10:20
Speaker 1: Being expelled Siena, and at feud with the counts of
1:10:23
Speaker 1: Santa Fiori, raised radical fanny against the Church of Rome,
1:10:26
Speaker 1: and taking up his sojourn there caused his swashbucklers to
1:10:29
Speaker 1: spoil whosoever passed through the surrounding country, now Boniface, the
1:10:34
Speaker 1: eighth being Pope in Rome, there came to court the
1:10:37
Speaker 1: Abbot of Clooney, who is believed to be one of
1:10:39
Speaker 1: the richest prelates in the world. And having their marred
1:10:42
Speaker 1: his stomach, he was advised by the physicians to repair
1:10:45
Speaker 1: to the baths of Siena, and he would, without fail
1:10:47
Speaker 1: be cured accordingly. Having gotten the Pope's leave, he set
1:10:52
Speaker 1: out on his way thither in great pomp of gear
1:10:54
Speaker 1: and baggage, and horses and servitors. Unrecking of Gino's ill report.
1:10:59
Speaker 1: The latter, hearing of his coming, spread his nets and
1:11:02
Speaker 1: hemmed him in all his household and gear about in
1:11:04
Speaker 1: a straight place, without letting a single footboy escape. This done,
1:11:09
Speaker 1: he despatched to the abbot, one the most sufficient of
1:11:12
Speaker 1: his men, well accompanied, who in his name very lovingly
1:11:16
Speaker 1: prayed him be pleased to light down and sojourn with
1:11:18
Speaker 1: the aforesaid Guino in his castle. The abbot, hearing this,
1:11:23
Speaker 1: answered furiously that he would nowise do it, having not
1:11:26
Speaker 1: to do with Guino, but that he would fare on
1:11:28
Speaker 1: and would fain see who should forbid his passage. Where
1:11:32
Speaker 1: to quote the messenger on humble wys, Sir, you are
1:11:35
Speaker 1: come into parts where, barring God his might, there is
1:11:38
Speaker 1: nothing to fear for us, and where excommunications and interdicts
1:11:41
Speaker 1: are all excommunicated. Wherefore, may it please you were best
1:11:45
Speaker 1: comply with Guino in this During this parley the whole
1:11:49
Speaker 1: place had been encompassed about with men at arms. Wherefore
1:11:52
Speaker 1: the Abbot, seeing himself taken with his men, betook himself
1:11:56
Speaker 1: soar against his will, to the castle in company with
1:11:59
Speaker 1: the ambassador, and with him all his household and gear,
1:12:02
Speaker 1: and alighting there was, by Gino's orders, lodged all alone
1:12:07
Speaker 1: in a very dark and mean little chamber in one
1:12:09
Speaker 1: of the pavilions, whilst every one else was well enough
1:12:12
Speaker 1: accommodated according to his quality, about the castle, and the
1:12:15
Speaker 1: horses and all the gear put in safety, without aught
1:12:18
Speaker 1: thereof being touched. This done, Gino betook himself to the
1:12:22
Speaker 1: Abbot and said to him, Sir, Guino, whose guest you
1:12:26
Speaker 1: are sendeth to you, praying you acquaint him whither you
1:12:29
Speaker 1: are bound, and on what occasion. The abbot, like a
1:12:32
Speaker 1: wise man, had by this laid by his pride, and
1:12:35
Speaker 1: told him whither he went, and why Gaino, hearing this,
1:12:39
Speaker 1: took his leave, and bethought himself to go about to
1:12:41
Speaker 1: cure him without baths. Accordingly, he let keep a great
1:12:46
Speaker 1: fire still burning in the little room, and causing guard
1:12:48
Speaker 1: the place well, returned not to the abbot till the
1:12:51
Speaker 1: following morning, when he brought him in a very white napkin,
1:12:55
Speaker 1: two slices of toasted bread, and a great beaker of
1:12:58
Speaker 1: his own Corniglia vernage for undred and forty one, and
1:13:01
Speaker 1: bespoke him thus, sir. When Gino was young, he studied medicine,
1:13:05
Speaker 1: and said that he learned there was no better remedy
1:13:07
Speaker 1: for the stomach complaint than that which he purposeth to
1:13:10
Speaker 1: apply to you, and of which these things that I
1:13:12
Speaker 1: bring you are the beginning. Wherefore do you take them
1:13:15
Speaker 1: and refresh yourself. The abbot, whose hunger was greater than
1:13:19
Speaker 1: his desire to bandy words, ate the bread and drank
1:13:22
Speaker 1: the wine, though he did it with an ill will,
1:13:24
Speaker 1: and after made many haughty speeches, asking and counseling of
1:13:28
Speaker 1: many things, and demanding in particular to see Guino. The latter,
1:13:32
Speaker 1: hearing this talk, let part of it pass as idle,
1:13:35
Speaker 1: and answered the rest very courteously a vouching that Gino
1:13:38
Speaker 1: would visit him as quickly as he might. This said,
1:13:42
Speaker 1: he took his leave of him, and returned not until
1:13:44
Speaker 1: the ensuing day, when he brought him as much toasted
1:13:47
Speaker 1: bread and as much malmsey. And so he kept him
1:13:49
Speaker 1: several days till such time as he perceived that he
1:13:52
Speaker 1: had eaten some dried beans, which he had of intent aforethought,
1:13:55
Speaker 1: brought secretly Thitherin left there, whereupon he asked him, on
1:14:00
Speaker 1: Guino's part, how he found himself about the stomach. The
1:14:04
Speaker 1: abbot answered, meseemeth, I should fare well were I but
1:14:07
Speaker 1: out of his hands, and after that I have no
1:14:10
Speaker 1: greater desire than to eat, so well have his remedies
1:14:13
Speaker 1: cured me. Thereupon Guino caused the abbot's own people array
1:14:17
Speaker 1: him a goodly chamber with his own gear, and let
1:14:19
Speaker 1: make ready a magnificent banquet, to which he bade the
1:14:22
Speaker 1: prelates whole household together with many folk of the burgh.
1:14:26
Speaker 1: Next morning, he betook himself to the abbot and said
1:14:29
Speaker 1: to him, Sir, since you feel yourself well, it is
1:14:32
Speaker 1: time to leave the infirmary. Then, taking him by the hand,
1:14:36
Speaker 1: he brought him to the chamber prepared for him, and
1:14:39
Speaker 1: leaving him there in company of his own people, occupied
1:14:41
Speaker 1: himself with caring that the banquet should be a magnificent one.
1:14:45
Speaker 1: The abbot solaced himself a while with his men and
1:14:48
Speaker 1: told them what his life had been since his capture,
1:14:50
Speaker 1: whilst they, on the other hand, avouched themselves all to
1:14:53
Speaker 1: have been wonder well entreated of Guino. The eating hour come,
1:14:58
Speaker 1: the Abbot and the rest were well and orderly served
1:15:00
Speaker 1: with goodly viands and fine wines, without Guiino yet letting
1:15:04
Speaker 1: himself be known of the prelate. But after the latter
1:15:07
Speaker 1: had abid then some days on this wise, the outlaw,
1:15:10
Speaker 1: having let bring all his gear into one saloon, and
1:15:12
Speaker 1: all his horses down to the sorriest roundsea into a
1:15:16
Speaker 1: courtyard that was under the windows thereof betook himself to
1:15:20
Speaker 1: him and asked him how he did, and if he
1:15:21
Speaker 1: deemed himself strong enough to take horse. The abbot answered
1:15:26
Speaker 1: that he was strong enough and quite recovered of his
1:15:28
Speaker 1: stomach complaint, and that he should fare perfectly well once
1:15:31
Speaker 1: he should be out of Gaiino's hands. Gaino then brought
1:15:34
Speaker 1: him into the saloon, wherein was his gear and all
1:15:37
Speaker 1: his train, and carrying him to a window, whence he
1:15:40
Speaker 1: might see all his horses. Said my lord Abbot, you
1:15:43
Speaker 1: must know that it was the being a gentleman and
1:15:45
Speaker 1: expelled from his house, and poor, and having many and
1:15:48
Speaker 1: puisant enemies, and not evilness of mind, that brought Gaino
1:15:52
Speaker 1: di Taco, who is none other than myself, to be,
1:15:56
Speaker 1: for the defense of his life and his nobility, a
1:15:58
Speaker 1: highway robber and an end of the court of Rome. Nevertheless,
1:16:03
Speaker 1: for that you seem to me a worthy gentleman, I
1:16:05
Speaker 1: purpose not, now that I have cured you of your
1:16:07
Speaker 1: stomach complaint, to use you as I would another from
1:16:10
Speaker 1: whom he, being in my hands as you are, I
1:16:13
Speaker 1: would take for myself such part of his goods as
1:16:15
Speaker 1: seemed well to me. Nay, it is my intent that you,
1:16:18
Speaker 1: having regard to my need, shall appoint to me such
1:16:22
Speaker 1: part of your good as you yourself will. It is
1:16:25
Speaker 1: all here before you, in its entirety, and your horses
1:16:27
Speaker 1: you may from this window see in the courtyard. Take
1:16:30
Speaker 1: therefore both part in all as it pleaseth you, And
1:16:34
Speaker 1: from this time forth be it at your pleasure to
1:16:36
Speaker 1: go or to stay. The Abbot marveled to hear such
1:16:39
Speaker 1: generous words from a highway robber, and was exceeding well pleased.
1:16:42
Speaker 1: Therewith insomuch that his anger, and despite being of a
1:16:46
Speaker 1: sudden fallen nay, changed into good will. He became Guyno's
1:16:50
Speaker 1: hearty friend and ran to embrace him, saying, I vow
1:16:53
Speaker 1: to God that to gain the friendship of a man
1:16:56
Speaker 1: such as I presently judge THEE to be, I would
1:16:59
Speaker 1: gladly consent to suffer a far greater affront than that
1:17:01
Speaker 1: which meseemed. But now thou hadst done me a cursed
1:17:05
Speaker 1: be fortune that constrained THEE to so damnable a trade. Then,
1:17:09
Speaker 1: letting take of his many goods, but a very few
1:17:12
Speaker 1: necessary things, and the like of his horses, he left
1:17:15
Speaker 1: all the rest to Guino and returned to Rome. The
1:17:18
Speaker 1: Pope had had news of the taking of the abbot,
1:17:20
Speaker 1: and albeit it had given him sore concern, he asked
1:17:23
Speaker 1: him when he saw him how the baths had profited him. Whereto,
1:17:27
Speaker 1: he replied, smiling, Holy Father, I found a worthy physician
1:17:31
Speaker 1: nearer than at the baths, who hath excellently well cured me,
1:17:34
Speaker 1: and told him how whereat The Pope laughed, and the
1:17:37
Speaker 1: abbot following on his speech, and moved by a magnanimous spirit,
1:17:42
Speaker 1: craved a boon of him. The Pope, thinking he would
1:17:45
Speaker 1: demand otherwise, freely offered to do that which he should ask.
1:17:49
Speaker 1: And the Abbot said, Holy Father, that which I mean
1:17:52
Speaker 1: to ask of you is that you restore your favor
1:17:54
Speaker 1: to Gino di Taco, my physician, for that of all
1:17:58
Speaker 1: the men of worth and high account, whom I ever knew,
1:18:01
Speaker 1: he issurd. He's one of the most deserving. And for
1:18:03
Speaker 1: this ill that he doth, I hold it much more
1:18:05
Speaker 1: fortune's fault than his, the which four hundred forty two.
1:18:09
Speaker 1: If you change by bestowing on him somewhat whereby he
1:18:12
Speaker 1: may live according to his condition, I doubt not anywise,
1:18:15
Speaker 1: but you will, in brief space of time deem of him,
1:18:19
Speaker 1: even as I do. The Pope, who was great of
1:18:22
Speaker 1: soul and a lover of men of worth, hearing this,
1:18:25
Speaker 1: replied that he would gladly do it. And Guiino were
1:18:28
Speaker 1: indeed of such account, as the Abbot vouched, and bade
1:18:30
Speaker 1: the latter cause him come thither in all security. Accordingly, Guino,
1:18:35
Speaker 1: at the Abbot's instance, came to court upon that assurance.
1:18:39
Speaker 1: Nor had he been long about the Pope's person ere
1:18:41
Speaker 1: the latter reputed him a man of worth, and taking
1:18:44
Speaker 1: him into favor, bestowed on him a grand priory of
1:18:46
Speaker 1: those of the hospitalers, having first let make him a
1:18:49
Speaker 1: knight of that order, which office he held whilst he lived,
1:18:53
Speaker 1: still approving himself a loyal friend and servant of Holy
1:18:56
Speaker 1: Church and of the Abbot of Clooney. The third story
1:19:00
Speaker 1: Glory Day, the tenth of my t h R. I
1:19:01
Speaker 1: dany s, envying Nathan his hospitality and generosity, and going
1:19:05
Speaker 1: to O kill him, faleth in with himself, without knowing him,
1:19:09
Speaker 1: and is by him instructed of the course he shall take.
1:19:11
Speaker 1: THEO accomplish his purpose by means whereof he findeth him
1:19:16
Speaker 1: as he himself had ordered it, in a coppice. In
1:19:18
Speaker 1: recognizing him, I s ashamed and becometh his friend. Them
1:19:22
Speaker 1: seemed all they had heard what was like unto a miracle,
1:19:24
Speaker 1: to wit that a churchman should have wrought anywhat magnificently.
1:19:28
Speaker 1: But as soon as the ladies had left discoursing thereof
1:19:32
Speaker 1: the King bade Filostrato proceed, whose forthright began, noble ladies.
1:19:36
Speaker 1: Great was the magnificence of the King of Spain. And
1:19:39
Speaker 1: that of the Abbot of Clooney, a thing belike never
1:19:41
Speaker 1: yet heard of. But maybe it will seem to you
1:19:43
Speaker 1: no less marvelous a thing to hear, how a man
1:19:46
Speaker 1: that he might do generosity to another who thirsted for
1:19:48
Speaker 1: his blood, nay for the very breath of his nostrils,
1:19:53
Speaker 1: privily bethought himself to give them to him, and would
1:19:55
Speaker 1: have done it had the other will to take them.
1:19:58
Speaker 1: Even as I purpose to show you in a little
1:20:00
Speaker 1: story of mine, it is a very certain thing, if
1:20:03
Speaker 1: credit may be given to the report of diverse Genoese
1:20:06
Speaker 1: and others who have been in those countries, that there
1:20:08
Speaker 1: was aforetime in the parts of Cadajo four hundred forty
1:20:11
Speaker 1: three a man of noble lineage and rich beyond compare
1:20:15
Speaker 1: called Nathan, who, having in a state adjoining a highway, whereby,
1:20:19
Speaker 1: as of necessity, passed all who sought to go from
1:20:22
Speaker 1: the ponent to the levant, or from the levant to
1:20:24
Speaker 1: the ponent, and being a man of great and generous soul,
1:20:27
Speaker 1: and desirous that it should be known by his works,
1:20:29
Speaker 1: assembled a great multitude of artificers, and let build there
1:20:33
Speaker 1: in a little space of time, one of the fairest
1:20:36
Speaker 1: and greatest and richest palaces that had ever been seen,
1:20:39
Speaker 1: the which he caused excellently well furnished with all that
1:20:41
Speaker 1: was apt unto the reception and entertainment of gentlemen. Then
1:20:46
Speaker 1: having a great and goodly household, he there received and
1:20:49
Speaker 1: honorably entertained with joyance and good cheer whosoever came and went,
1:20:53
Speaker 1: And in this praise were the usance he persevered, insomuch
1:20:56
Speaker 1: that not only the levant, but well nigh all the
1:20:58
Speaker 1: ponent knew him. By he was already full of years,
1:21:03
Speaker 1: nor was therefore grown weary of the practice of hospitality.
1:21:06
Speaker 1: When it chanced that his fame reached the ears of
1:21:08
Speaker 1: a young man of a country not far from his own,
1:21:11
Speaker 1: by name Mithridanes, who, knowing himself no less rich than Nathan,
1:21:15
Speaker 1: and waxing envious of his renown and his virtues, bethought
1:21:19
Speaker 1: himself to eclipse or shadow them with greater liberality. Accordingly,
1:21:23
Speaker 1: letting build a palace like unto that of Nathan, he
1:21:26
Speaker 1: proceeded to do the most unbounded courtesies four hundred forty
1:21:30
Speaker 1: four that ever any did, whosoever came or went about
1:21:33
Speaker 1: those parts, And in a short time he became, without
1:21:35
Speaker 1: doubt very famous. It chanced one day that as he
1:21:39
Speaker 1: abode all alone in the mid court of his palace,
1:21:42
Speaker 1: there came in by one of the gates a poor
1:21:44
Speaker 1: woman who sought of him in alms and had it.
1:21:47
Speaker 1: Then coming in again to him by the second she
1:21:50
Speaker 1: had of him another alms, and so on for twelve
1:21:52
Speaker 1: times in succession. But when as she returned for the
1:21:55
Speaker 1: thirteenth time, he said to her, good woman, thou art
1:22:00
Speaker 1: very diligent in this thine asking, and Nathlis gave her
1:22:03
Speaker 1: an alms. The old crone, hearing these words, exclaimed, O
1:22:08
Speaker 1: liberality of Nathan, How marvelous art thou for that entering
1:22:13
Speaker 1: in by each of the two end thirty gates which
1:22:15
Speaker 1: his palace hath, and asking of him in alms? Never
1:22:18
Speaker 1: for all that he showed, was I recognized of him?
1:22:21
Speaker 1: And still I had it whilst here, having as yet
1:22:24
Speaker 1: come in. But at thirteen gates I have been both
1:22:26
Speaker 1: recognized and chitten. So saying, she went her ways and
1:22:31
Speaker 1: returned thither no more. Mithridanes, hearing the old woman's words,
1:22:36
Speaker 1: flamed up into a furious rage, as he who held
1:22:39
Speaker 1: that which he heard of Nathan's fame a diminishment of
1:22:41
Speaker 1: his own, and fell to saying, alack, woe is me?
1:22:45
Speaker 1: When shall I attain to Nathan's liberality in great things?
1:22:48
Speaker 1: Let alone overpass it as I seek to do. Seeing
1:22:51
Speaker 1: that I cannot approach him in the smallest verily, I
1:22:55
Speaker 1: weary myself in vain, and I remove him not from
1:22:58
Speaker 1: the earth. Wherefore, since E l d carrieth him not
1:23:01
Speaker 1: off needs, must I with mine own hands do it
1:23:04
Speaker 1: without delay? Accordingly, rising upon that motion, he took horse
1:23:09
Speaker 1: with a small company, without communicating his design to any,
1:23:12
Speaker 1: and came after three days whereas Nathan abode. He arrived
1:23:16
Speaker 1: there at eventide, and, bidding his followers make a show
1:23:19
Speaker 1: of not being with him, and provide themselves with lodging
1:23:22
Speaker 1: against they should hear farther from him, abode alone, at
1:23:25
Speaker 1: no great distance from the fair palace, where he found
1:23:27
Speaker 1: Nathan all unattended, as he went walking for his diversion
1:23:31
Speaker 1: without any pomp of apparel, and, knowing him not, asked
1:23:35
Speaker 1: him if he could inform him where Nathan dwelt. My
1:23:38
Speaker 1: son answered the latter cheerfully. There is none in these
1:23:41
Speaker 1: parts who is better able than I to show THEE
1:23:43
Speaker 1: that Wherefore, when as it pleaseth THEE, I will carry
1:23:47
Speaker 1: thee thither. Mithridanes rejoined that this would be very acceptable
1:23:51
Speaker 1: to him, but that an it might be, he would
1:23:53
Speaker 1: fain be neither seen nor known of Nathan. And the
1:23:56
Speaker 1: latter said, that also will I do, since it pleaseth thee.
1:24:00
Speaker 1: Mithridanes accordingly dismounted and repaired to the goodly palace, in
1:24:04
Speaker 1: company with Nathan, who quickly engaged him in most pleasant discourse.
1:24:09
Speaker 1: There he caused one of his servants take the young
1:24:11
Speaker 1: man's horse, and, putting his mouth to his ear, charged
1:24:14
Speaker 1: him take order with all those of the house, so
1:24:16
Speaker 1: none should tell the youth that he was Nathan. And
1:24:19
Speaker 1: so was it done. Moreover, he lodged him in a
1:24:22
Speaker 1: very goodly chamber, where none saw him save those whom
1:24:25
Speaker 1: he had deputed to this service, and let entertain him
1:24:28
Speaker 1: with the utmost honor, himself bearing him company. After Mithridanes
1:24:33
Speaker 1: had a bid den with him. Awhile on this wise,
1:24:35
Speaker 1: he asked him, albeit he held him in reverence as
1:24:38
Speaker 1: a father who he was, to which Nathan answered, I
1:24:41
Speaker 1: am an unworthy servant of Nathan, who have grown old
1:24:44
Speaker 1: with him from my childhood, nor hath he ever advanced
1:24:47
Speaker 1: me to other? What than that which thou sayest me. Wherefore,
1:24:51
Speaker 1: albeit every one else is mighty well pleased with him, I,
1:24:54
Speaker 1: for my part, have little cause to thank him. These
1:24:57
Speaker 1: words afforded Mithridane some hope of availing with more certitude
1:25:00
Speaker 1: and more safety to give effect to his perverse design,
1:25:04
Speaker 1: And Nathan, very courteously asking him who he was and
1:25:07
Speaker 1: what occasion brought him into those parts, in proffering him
1:25:09
Speaker 1: his advice and assistance insomuch as lay in his power,
1:25:12
Speaker 1: he hesitated a while to reply, but presently resolving to
1:25:16
Speaker 1: trust himself to him, he, with a long circuit of
1:25:20
Speaker 1: words four hundred and forty five, required him first of secrecy,
1:25:24
Speaker 1: and after of aid and counsel, and entirely discovered to
1:25:27
Speaker 1: him who he was, and wherefore and on what motion
1:25:29
Speaker 1: he came. Nathan, hearing his discourse and his cruel design,
1:25:34
Speaker 1: was inwardly all disordered, But nevertheless, without much hesitation, he
1:25:38
Speaker 1: answered him with an undaunted mind and a firm countenance, saying, Mithridanes,
1:25:43
Speaker 1: thy father was a noble man, and thou ShoWest thyself
1:25:46
Speaker 1: minded not to degenerate from him, in having entered upon
1:25:49
Speaker 1: so high an imprize as this thou hast undertaken to
1:25:52
Speaker 1: wit to be liberal unto all. And greatly do I
1:25:55
Speaker 1: commend the jealousy thou beareest unto Nathan's virtues, For that
1:25:59
Speaker 1: were their men ye such four hundred and forty six,
1:26:02
Speaker 1: the world that is most wretched would soon become good.
1:26:06
Speaker 1: The design that thou hast discovered to me I will
1:26:08
Speaker 1: without fail keep secret. But for the accomplishment thereof I
1:26:12
Speaker 1: can rather give the useful counsel than great help. The
1:26:14
Speaker 1: which is this, Thou mayst from here see a coppice,
1:26:18
Speaker 1: maybe half a mile hence wherein Nathan well nigh every
1:26:21
Speaker 1: morning walketh all alone, taking his pleasure there a pretty
1:26:25
Speaker 1: long while. And there it will be a like matter
1:26:27
Speaker 1: to THEE defined him, and do thy will of him.
1:26:30
Speaker 1: If thou slay him, thou must so thou mayst return
1:26:33
Speaker 1: home without hindrance, get THEE gone. Not by that way
1:26:36
Speaker 1: thou camest, but by that which thou wilt see issue
1:26:38
Speaker 1: forth of the coppice on the left hand. For that,
1:26:41
Speaker 1: albeit it is somewhat wilder, it is nearer to thy
1:26:44
Speaker 1: country and safer for THEE. Mithridanes, having received this information
1:26:48
Speaker 1: and Nathan, having taken leave of him, privily let his companions,
1:26:52
Speaker 1: who had like himself taken up their sojourn in the palace,
1:26:56
Speaker 1: know where they should look for him. On the morrow
1:26:58
Speaker 1: and the new day came Nathan, whose intent was no
1:27:02
Speaker 1: wise at variance with the council he had given Mithridanes,
1:27:04
Speaker 1: nor was any wise changed, betook himself alone to the
1:27:07
Speaker 1: coppice there to die. Meanwhile, Mithridanes arose, and taking his
1:27:12
Speaker 1: bow and his sword for other arms he had not
1:27:15
Speaker 1: mounted to horse, and made for the coppice, where he
1:27:18
Speaker 1: saw Nathan from Afar go walking all alone. Being resolved ere,
1:27:22
Speaker 1: he attacked him, to seek to see him and hear
1:27:25
Speaker 1: him speak. He ran towards him, and, seizing him by
1:27:27
Speaker 1: the filet he had about his head, said old man
1:27:30
Speaker 1: thou Art dead whereto? Nathan answered, no other? WoT then
1:27:35
Speaker 1: than have I merited it. Mithridanes, hearing his voice, and
1:27:39
Speaker 1: looking him in the face, knew him forthright for him
1:27:41
Speaker 1: who had so lovingly received him, and familiarly accompanied with him,
1:27:44
Speaker 1: and faithfully counseled him. Whereupon his fury in countenance subsided,
1:27:48
Speaker 1: and his rage was changed into shame, accordingly casting away
1:27:53
Speaker 1: the sword which he had already pulled out to smite him,
1:27:56
Speaker 1: And lighting down from his horse, he ran, weeping to
1:27:59
Speaker 1: throw himself at Nathan's feet, and said to him, now,
1:28:02
Speaker 1: dearest father, do I manifestly recognize your liberality, considering with
1:28:06
Speaker 1: what secrecy you are come hither to give me your life?
1:28:09
Speaker 1: Whereof without any reason I showed myself desirous, and that
1:28:14
Speaker 1: to yourself. But God more careful of mine honor than
1:28:17
Speaker 1: I myself, hath in the extremest hour of need, opened
1:28:21
Speaker 1: the eyes of my understanding, which vile envy had closed. Wherefore,
1:28:26
Speaker 1: the readier you have been to comply with me so much,
1:28:29
Speaker 1: the more do I confess myself beholden to do penance
1:28:31
Speaker 1: for my default. Take then of me the vengeance which
1:28:35
Speaker 1: you deem conformable to my sin. Nathan raised Mithridanes to
1:28:39
Speaker 1: his feet and tenderly embraced and kissed him, saying, my son,
1:28:43
Speaker 1: it needeth not that thou shouldst ask, nor that I
1:28:46
Speaker 1: should grant forgiveness of thine imprise, whatever thou choosest to
1:28:49
Speaker 1: style it, whether wicked or otherwise. For that thou pursued'st
1:28:53
Speaker 1: it not of hatred, but to win to be held
1:28:55
Speaker 1: better live, then secure from me, and be assured that
1:28:59
Speaker 1: there is no man alive who loveth thee as I do.
1:29:02
Speaker 1: Having regard to the loftiness of thy soul, which hath
1:29:05
Speaker 1: given itself, not to the amassing of monies, as do
1:29:08
Speaker 1: the covetous, but to the expenditure of those that have
1:29:10
Speaker 1: been amassed. Neither be thou ashamed of having sought to
1:29:14
Speaker 1: slay me, so thou mightast become famous. Nor think that
1:29:17
Speaker 1: I marvel thereat the greatest emperors and the most illustrious
1:29:22
Speaker 1: kings have with well nine none other art than that
1:29:24
Speaker 1: of slaying not one man, as thou wouldst have done,
1:29:28
Speaker 1: but an infinite multitude of men, and burning countries and
1:29:31
Speaker 1: raising cities, enlarged their realms and consequently their fame. Wherefore,
1:29:35
Speaker 1: and thou wouldst to make thyself more famous have slain me?
1:29:40
Speaker 1: Only thou didst no new nor extraordinary thing, but one
1:29:43
Speaker 1: much used. Mithridames, without holding himself excused of his perverse design,
1:29:49
Speaker 1: commended the honorable excuse found by Nathan and Kaim in
1:29:52
Speaker 1: course of converse with him, to say that he marveled
1:29:56
Speaker 1: beyond measure how he could have brought himself to meet
1:29:58
Speaker 1: his death and have gone so far far as even
1:30:00
Speaker 1: to give him means and counsel to that end, where too,
1:30:03
Speaker 1: quoth Nathan Mithridanes, I would not have THEE marvel at
1:30:06
Speaker 1: my resolution, nor at the counsel I gave THEE for that,
1:30:10
Speaker 1: Since I have been mine own master, and have addressed
1:30:12
Speaker 1: myself to do that same thing which thou hast undertaken
1:30:15
Speaker 1: to do. There came never any to my house. But
1:30:17
Speaker 1: I contented him so far as in me lay of
1:30:20
Speaker 1: that which was required of me by him. Thou camest
1:30:24
Speaker 1: hither desirous of my life. Wherefore, learning that thou soughtest it,
1:30:28
Speaker 1: I straightway determined to give it THEE, so thou mightest
1:30:31
Speaker 1: not be the only one to depart hence without his wish.
1:30:33
Speaker 1: And in order that thou mightest have thy desire, I
1:30:36
Speaker 1: gave THEE such counsel as I thought apt, to enable
1:30:38
Speaker 1: THEE to have my life and not lose thine own.
1:30:42
Speaker 1: And therefore I tell THEE once more, and pray THEE
1:30:44
Speaker 1: an it please THEE, take it and satisfy thyself thereof
1:30:49
Speaker 1: I know not how I may better bestow it. These
1:30:52
Speaker 1: fourscore years have I occupied it and used it about
1:30:55
Speaker 1: my pleasures and my diversions. And I know that in
1:30:57
Speaker 1: the course of nature, according as it fareth with other
1:31:00
Speaker 1: men and with things in general, it can now be
1:31:02
Speaker 1: left me but a little while longer. Wherefore I hold
1:31:05
Speaker 1: it far better to bestow it by way of gift,
1:31:08
Speaker 1: like as I have still given and expended my other treasures,
1:31:12
Speaker 1: than to seek to keep it until such times as
1:31:14
Speaker 1: it shall be taken from me by nature against my will.
1:31:18
Speaker 1: To give an hundred years is no great boon. How
1:31:20
Speaker 1: much less then is it to give the six or
1:31:23
Speaker 1: eight I have yet to abide here. Take it then,
1:31:26
Speaker 1: and it like thee prithee, Then take it, and thou
1:31:30
Speaker 1: have a mind there too, for that. Never Yet, what
1:31:33
Speaker 1: while I have lived here have I found any who
1:31:35
Speaker 1: hath desired it? Nor know I when I may find
1:31:38
Speaker 1: any such? And thou who demandest it take it not.
1:31:42
Speaker 1: And even should I chance to find any one, I
1:31:45
Speaker 1: know that the longer I keep it, the less worth
1:31:47
Speaker 1: will it be. Therefore, ere it wax sorrier, take it?
1:31:51
Speaker 1: I beseech. Thee Mithridaines was sore abashed, and replied, God, forbid,
1:31:56
Speaker 1: I should let alone take and sever from you a
1:31:58
Speaker 1: thing of such price as your life but even desire
1:32:01
Speaker 1: to do so, as but late I did your life,
1:32:04
Speaker 1: whose years, far from seeking to lessen, I would willingly
1:32:07
Speaker 1: add there too of mine own, whereto Nathan straightway rejoined,
1:32:12
Speaker 1: and art thou indeed willing it, being in thy power
1:32:14
Speaker 1: to do it, to add of thy years unto mine,
1:32:17
Speaker 1: and in so doing to cause me do for THEE
1:32:19
Speaker 1: that which I never yet did for any man, to
1:32:21
Speaker 1: wit take of thy good I who never yet took
1:32:24
Speaker 1: out of others. I am, I answered Mithridanes. In haste,
1:32:29
Speaker 1: then said Nathan, thou must do as I shall bid THEE.
1:32:33
Speaker 1: Thou shalt take up thine abode young as thou art
1:32:36
Speaker 1: here in my house, and bear the name of Nathan,
1:32:38
Speaker 1: whilst I will betake myself to thy house, and let
1:32:40
Speaker 1: still call myself Mithridanes. Quoth Mithridanes. And I knew how
1:32:45
Speaker 1: to do as well as you have done and do,
1:32:47
Speaker 1: I would without hesitation take that which you proffer me.
1:32:51
Speaker 1: But since meseemeth very certain that my actions would be
1:32:54
Speaker 1: a diminishment of Nathan's fame, and as I purpose not
1:32:56
Speaker 1: to mar in another that which I know not how
1:32:58
Speaker 1: to order in myself, I will not take it. These
1:33:02
Speaker 1: and many other courteous discourses having passed between them, they returned,
1:33:06
Speaker 1: at Nathan's instance, to the latter's palace, where he entertained
1:33:10
Speaker 1: Mithridanes with the utmost honor sundry days, heartening him in
1:33:13
Speaker 1: his great and noble purpose, with all manner of wit
1:33:15
Speaker 1: and wisdom. Then Mithridane's desiring to return to his own
1:33:20
Speaker 1: house with his company, he dismissed him, having truly given
1:33:23
Speaker 1: him to know that he might never avail to outdo
1:33:26
Speaker 1: him in liberality. The fourth story day, the tenth Messer
1:33:29
Speaker 1: Gentile d e Keresendi, coming from Medona, taketh forth of
1:33:33
Speaker 1: the Sepulcher a lady whom he loveth, and who hath
1:33:36
Speaker 1: been buried for dead. The lady restored to life, beareth
1:33:40
Speaker 1: a male child, and Messer Gentile restoreth her and her
1:33:43
Speaker 1: son to Nicolucho Caccianimico, her husband. It seemed to all
1:33:47
Speaker 1: a marvelous thing that a man should be lavish of
1:33:49
Speaker 1: his own blood, and they declared Nathan's liberality to have
1:33:52
Speaker 1: verily transcended that of the King of Spain and the
1:33:54
Speaker 1: Abbot of Clooney. But after enough to one and the
1:33:58
Speaker 1: other effect had been said, thereof the king, looking towards Loretta,
1:34:02
Speaker 1: signed to her that he would ever tell, whereupon she
1:34:05
Speaker 1: straightway began, Young ladies, magnificent and goodly are the things
1:34:09
Speaker 1: that have been recounted, nor meseemeth is there ought left
1:34:11
Speaker 1: unto us who have yet to tell where through we
1:34:15
Speaker 1: may range a story telling. So truly have they all
1:34:18
Speaker 1: four hundred forty seven been occupied with the loftiness of
1:34:21
Speaker 1: the magnificence as related, except we have recourse to the
1:34:24
Speaker 1: affairs of love, which latter afford a great abundance of
1:34:27
Speaker 1: matter for discourse on every subject. Wherefore, at once on
1:34:32
Speaker 1: this account and for that the theme is one to
1:34:33
Speaker 1: which our age must needs, especially incline us. It pleaseth
1:34:37
Speaker 1: me to relate to you an act of magnanimity done
1:34:39
Speaker 1: by a lover, which all things considered will peradventure appear
1:34:43
Speaker 1: to you no wise inferior to any of those already
1:34:45
Speaker 1: set forth. If it be true that treasures are lavished
1:34:49
Speaker 1: enmities forgotten in life itself, nay, what is far more
1:34:53
Speaker 1: honor and renown exposed to a thousand perils, So we
1:34:56
Speaker 1: may avail to possess the thing beloved. There was then
1:35:01
Speaker 1: in Bologna a very noble city of Lombardy a gentleman,
1:35:04
Speaker 1: very notable for virtue and nobility of blood, called Messer
1:35:08
Speaker 1: Gentile Kerisendi, who, being young, became enamored of a noble
1:35:12
Speaker 1: lady called Madame Catalina, the wife of one Nicolucho Caccianimico,
1:35:16
Speaker 1: and for that he was ill repaid of his love
1:35:18
Speaker 1: by the lady. Being named provost of Madona, he betook
1:35:23
Speaker 1: himself thither as in despair of her. Meanwhile, Nicolucho, being
1:35:27
Speaker 1: absent from Bologna, and the lady, having for that she
1:35:30
Speaker 1: was with child, gone to abide at a country house
1:35:33
Speaker 1: she had maybe three miles distant from the city. She
1:35:36
Speaker 1: was suddenly seized with a grievous fit of sickness four
1:35:39
Speaker 1: hundred and forty eight, which overcame her with such violence
1:35:43
Speaker 1: that it extinguished in her all sign of life, so
1:35:45
Speaker 1: that she was even a judged dead of divers physicians.
1:35:48
Speaker 1: And for that her nearest kinswomen declared themselves to have
1:35:51
Speaker 1: had it from herself that she had not been so
1:35:53
Speaker 1: long pregnant that the child could be fully formed. Without
1:35:56
Speaker 1: giving themselves farther concerned, they buried her such as she was.
1:36:01
Speaker 1: After much lamentation in one of the vaults of a
1:36:03
Speaker 1: neighboring church. The thing was forthright signified by a friend
1:36:07
Speaker 1: of his timesser gentile, who, poor as he had still
1:36:11
Speaker 1: been of her favor, grieved sore therefore and ultimately said
1:36:14
Speaker 1: in himself, harky, Madame Catalina, thou art dead, thou of
1:36:18
Speaker 1: whom what while thou livedst I could never avail to
1:36:22
Speaker 1: have so much as a look. Wherefore, now thou canst
1:36:25
Speaker 1: not defend thyself needs, must I take of thee a
1:36:27
Speaker 1: kiss or two? All dead as thou art, this said,
1:36:31
Speaker 1: he took order so his going should be secret, and
1:36:34
Speaker 1: it being presently knight, he mounted to horse with one
1:36:36
Speaker 1: of his servants, and rode without halting till he came
1:36:39
Speaker 1: whereas the lady was buried, and opened the sepulcher with
1:36:42
Speaker 1: all despatch. Then entering therein, he laid himself beside her, and,
1:36:47
Speaker 1: putting his face to hers, kissed her again and again
1:36:50
Speaker 1: with many tears. But presently, as we see, men's appetites
1:36:55
Speaker 1: never abide content within any limit, but still desire farther,
1:36:58
Speaker 1: and especially those of Lafe. Having bethought himself to tarry there,
1:37:02
Speaker 1: no longer he said, Mary, now that I am here,
1:37:05
Speaker 1: why should I not touch her? Some deal on the breast.
1:37:08
Speaker 1: I may never touch her more, nor have I ever
1:37:11
Speaker 1: yet done so. Accordingly, overcome with this desire, he put
1:37:16
Speaker 1: his hand into her bosom, and, holding it there a
1:37:18
Speaker 1: while him seemed he felt her heart beat somewhat. Thereupon,
1:37:22
Speaker 1: putting aside all fear, he sought more diligently, and found
1:37:26
Speaker 1: that she was certainly not dead, scant and feeble, as
1:37:29
Speaker 1: he deemed the life that lingered in her. Wherefore, with
1:37:32
Speaker 1: the help of his servant, he brought her forth of
1:37:34
Speaker 1: the tomb as softly as he might, and, setting her
1:37:37
Speaker 1: before him on his horse, carried her privily to his
1:37:40
Speaker 1: house in Bologna. There was his mother, a worthy and
1:37:44
Speaker 1: discreet gentlewoman, and she, after she had heard everything at
1:37:47
Speaker 1: large from her son, moved to compassion. Quietly addressed herself
1:37:51
Speaker 1: by means of hot baths and great fires, to recall
1:37:54
Speaker 1: the strayed life to the lady, who, coming presently to herself,
1:37:58
Speaker 1: head a great sigh and said, ah me, where am I,
1:38:02
Speaker 1: to which the good lady replied, be of good comfort,
1:38:05
Speaker 1: thou art in safety. Madame Catalina, collecting herself looked about her,
1:38:10
Speaker 1: and knew not aright where she was, But seeing Messer
1:38:14
Speaker 1: Gentile before her, she was filled with wonderment, and besought
1:38:17
Speaker 1: his mother to tell her how she came thither, whereupon
1:38:19
Speaker 1: Messer Gentile related to her everything in order. At this
1:38:23
Speaker 1: she was sore afflicted, but presently rendered him such thanks
1:38:26
Speaker 1: as she might, and after conjured him by the love
1:38:29
Speaker 1: he had erst borne her and of his courtesy, that
1:38:31
Speaker 1: she might not in his house suffer at his hands,
1:38:33
Speaker 1: ought that should be any wise contrary to her honor
1:38:36
Speaker 1: and that of her husband, and that as soon as
1:38:38
Speaker 1: the day should become, he would suffer her return to
1:38:41
Speaker 1: her own house. Madam answered Messer Gentile, whatsoever may have
1:38:46
Speaker 1: been my desire of time past, I purpose not either
1:38:49
Speaker 1: at this present or ever henceforth, since God hath vouchsafed
1:38:53
Speaker 1: me this grace, that he hath restored you to me
1:38:55
Speaker 1: from death to life, and that by means of the
1:38:57
Speaker 1: love I have hitherto borne you, to use you either
1:39:00
Speaker 1: here or elsewhere, otherwise than as a dear sister. But
1:39:03
Speaker 1: this my service that I have done you to night
1:39:05
Speaker 1: meriteth some recompense. Wherefore I would of you deny me
1:39:08
Speaker 1: not a favor that I shall ask you. The lady
1:39:11
Speaker 1: very graciously replied that she was ready to do his desire,
1:39:15
Speaker 1: so but she might and it were honorable, then said he, Madam,
1:39:19
Speaker 1: your kinsfolk and all the Bolognais believe and hold you
1:39:22
Speaker 1: for certain to be dead. Wherefore there is no one
1:39:24
Speaker 1: who looketh for you more at home, And therefore I
1:39:27
Speaker 1: would have you, of your favor, be pleased to abide
1:39:29
Speaker 1: quietly here with my mother till such time as I
1:39:31
Speaker 1: shall return from Madona, which will be soon. And the
1:39:35
Speaker 1: reason for which I require you of this is that
1:39:37
Speaker 1: I purpose to make a dear and solemn present of
1:39:39
Speaker 1: you to your husband, in the presence of the most
1:39:41
Speaker 1: notable citizens of this place. The lady, confessing herself beholden
1:39:46
Speaker 1: to the gentleman and that his request was an honorable one,
1:39:49
Speaker 1: determined to do as he asked. How muchsoever she desired
1:39:52
Speaker 1: to gladden her kinsfolk of her life four hundred forty nine,
1:39:56
Speaker 1: and so she promised it to him upon her faith
1:40:00
Speaker 1: had she made an end of her reply when she
1:40:02
Speaker 1: felt the time of her delivery to become, and not
1:40:04
Speaker 1: long after being lovingly tended of Messer Gentile's mother, she
1:40:08
Speaker 1: gave birth to a goodly male child, which manifold redoubled
1:40:11
Speaker 1: his gladness and her own messer Gentile took order that
1:40:15
Speaker 1: all things needful should be forthcoming, and that she should
1:40:18
Speaker 1: be tended as she were his proper wife, and presently
1:40:20
Speaker 1: returned in secret to Modona. There, having served the term
1:40:25
Speaker 1: of his office, and being about to return to Bologna,
1:40:27
Speaker 1: he took order for the holding of a great and
1:40:29
Speaker 1: goodly banquet at his house on the morning he was
1:40:31
Speaker 1: to enter the city, and thereto he bade many gentlemen
1:40:34
Speaker 1: of the place, amongst whom was Nicolucho Caccianimico. Accordingly, when
1:40:39
Speaker 1: he returned and dismounted, he found them all awaiting him,
1:40:42
Speaker 1: as likewise, the lady fairer and sounder than ever, and
1:40:46
Speaker 1: her little son in good case, and with inexpressible joy.
1:40:49
Speaker 1: Seating his guests at table, he let serve them magnificently
1:40:52
Speaker 1: with various meats. When, as the repast was near its end,
1:40:56
Speaker 1: having first told the lady what he meant to do,
1:40:58
Speaker 1: and take an order with her of them course that
1:41:00
Speaker 1: she should hold, he began to speak, Thus, gentlemen, I
1:41:03
Speaker 1: remember to have heard whiles that there is in Persia
1:41:06
Speaker 1: a custom, and to my thinking a pleasant one, to wit,
1:41:09
Speaker 1: that when as any is minded supremely to honor a
1:41:12
Speaker 1: friend of his, he biddeth him to his house, and
1:41:14
Speaker 1: there showeth him the thing, be it wife, or mistress,
1:41:17
Speaker 1: or daughter, or whatsoever else he holdeth most dear, a
1:41:20
Speaker 1: vouching that like as he showeth him this, even so
1:41:24
Speaker 1: and he might would he yet more willingly show him
1:41:26
Speaker 1: his very heart. Which custom my purpose to observe. In Bologna, you,
1:41:32
Speaker 1: of your favor, have honored my banquet with your presence,
1:41:35
Speaker 1: and I in turn mean to honor you after the
1:41:37
Speaker 1: Persian fashion, by showing you the most precious thing I
1:41:40
Speaker 1: have or may ever have in the world. But ere
1:41:44
Speaker 1: I proceed to do this, I pray you tell me
1:41:46
Speaker 1: what you deem of a doubt four hundred and fifty
1:41:49
Speaker 1: which I shall broach to you, And which is this?
1:41:52
Speaker 1: A certain person hath in his house a very faithful
1:41:55
Speaker 1: and good servant, who faleth grievously sick. Whereupon the former,
1:41:59
Speaker 1: without awaiting the sick man's end, leteth carry him into
1:42:02
Speaker 1: the middle street, and hath no more heed of him.
1:42:05
Speaker 1: Cometh a stranger who moved to compassion of the sick man,
1:42:09
Speaker 1: carrieth him off to his own house, and with great
1:42:11
Speaker 1: diligence and expense, bringeth him again to his former health.
1:42:15
Speaker 1: Now I would feign know whether, if he keep him
1:42:17
Speaker 1: and make use of his services, his former master can
1:42:20
Speaker 1: in equity complain of or blame the second, if he
1:42:23
Speaker 1: demanding him again, the latter refused to restore him. The gentlemen,
1:42:28
Speaker 1: after various discourse among themselves, concurring all in one opinion,
1:42:32
Speaker 1: committed the response to Nicolucho Caccianimico, for that he was
1:42:36
Speaker 1: a goodly and eloquent speaker. Whereupon the latter, having first
1:42:39
Speaker 1: commended the Persian usage, declared that he and all the rest,
1:42:43
Speaker 1: were of opinion that the first master had no longer
1:42:46
Speaker 1: any right in his servant, since he had, in such
1:42:49
Speaker 1: a circumstance not only abandoned him, but cast him away,
1:42:53
Speaker 1: and that for the kind offices done him by the
1:42:55
Speaker 1: second them seen, the servant was justly become his. Wherefore
1:42:59
Speaker 1: in keeping him he did the first know hurt, no violence,
1:43:04
Speaker 1: no unright whatsoever. The other guests at table, and there
1:43:08
Speaker 1: were men there of worth and worship, set all of
1:43:10
Speaker 1: one accord that they held to that which had been
1:43:12
Speaker 1: answered by Nicolucho, and Messer Gentile well pleased with this response,
1:43:16
Speaker 1: and that Nicoluchcho had made it a vouched himself also
1:43:19
Speaker 1: to be of the same opinion. Then said he, it
1:43:23
Speaker 1: is now time that I honor you according to promise,
1:43:26
Speaker 1: and calling two of his servants, despatched them to the lady,
1:43:29
Speaker 1: whom he had let magnificently dress and adorn, praying her
1:43:32
Speaker 1: be pleased to come gladden the company with her presence. Accordingly,
1:43:36
Speaker 1: she took her little son, who was very handsome, in
1:43:39
Speaker 1: her arms, and, coming into the banqueting hall, attended by
1:43:42
Speaker 1: two serving men, seated herself, as Messer Gentile willed it
1:43:46
Speaker 1: by the side of a gentleman of high standing. Then
1:43:49
Speaker 1: said he, gentlemen, this is the thing which I hold
1:43:52
Speaker 1: on purpose to hold dearer than any other. Look if
1:43:55
Speaker 1: it seemed to you that I have reason to do so.
1:43:58
Speaker 1: The guests, having paid her the utmost honor, commending her
1:44:01
Speaker 1: amain and declaring to Messer Gentile that he might well
1:44:04
Speaker 1: hold her dear, fell to looking upon her. And there
1:44:07
Speaker 1: were many there who had vouched her to be herself
1:44:09
Speaker 1: four hundred and fifty one. Had they not held her
1:44:12
Speaker 1: for dead. But Nicolucho gazed upon her above all, and
1:44:15
Speaker 1: unable to contain himself, asked her. Messer Gentile, having withdrawn
1:44:19
Speaker 1: awhile as one who burned, to know who she was,
1:44:22
Speaker 1: if she were a Bolognai's lady or a foreigner. The lady,
1:44:26
Speaker 1: seeing herself questioned of her husband, hardly restrained herself from answering,
1:44:31
Speaker 1: but yet to observe the appointed ordinance, she held her peace.
1:44:35
Speaker 1: Another asked her if the child was hers, and a
1:44:38
Speaker 1: third if she were Messer Gentile's wife, or anywise akin
1:44:41
Speaker 1: to him, but she made them no reply. Presently, Messer Gentile,
1:44:45
Speaker 1: coming up, one of his guests, said to him, Sir,
1:44:48
Speaker 1: this is a fair creature of yours. But she seemeth
1:44:51
Speaker 1: to us mute? Is she so? Gentlemen? Replied he her
1:44:55
Speaker 1: not having spoken at this present, is no small proof
1:44:58
Speaker 1: of her virtue. And the other said, tell us then
1:45:02
Speaker 1: who she is? Quoth Messer Gentile, That will I gladly so.
1:45:07
Speaker 1: But you will promise me that none for aught that
1:45:09
Speaker 1: I shall say, will budge from his place till such
1:45:12
Speaker 1: time as I shall have made an end of my story.
1:45:15
Speaker 1: All promised this, and the tables being presently removed. Messer Gentile,
1:45:19
Speaker 1: seating himself beside the lady, said, gentlemen, this lady is
1:45:23
Speaker 1: that loyal and faithful servant of whom I questioned you
1:45:26
Speaker 1: a while agone, and who, being held little dear of
1:45:29
Speaker 1: her folk, and so as a thing without worth and
1:45:31
Speaker 1: no longer useful, cast out into the midward of the street,
1:45:36
Speaker 1: was by me taken up. Yea, by my solicitude and
1:45:39
Speaker 1: of my handiwork, I brought her forth of the jaws
1:45:41
Speaker 1: of death, and God, having regard to my good intent,
1:45:44
Speaker 1: hath caused her by my means, from a frightful corpse
1:45:48
Speaker 1: become thus beautiful. But that you may more manifestly apprehend
1:45:52
Speaker 1: how this betided me, I will briefly declare it to you. Then,
1:45:57
Speaker 1: beginning from his falling enamored of her, he particularly related
1:46:00
Speaker 1: to them that which had passed until that time, to
1:46:03
Speaker 1: the great wonderment of the hearers, and added, by reason
1:46:06
Speaker 1: of which things and you, and especially Nicolucho, have not
1:46:09
Speaker 1: changed counsel since a while ago. The lady is fairly mine.
1:46:14
Speaker 1: Nor can any with just title demand her again of me?
1:46:17
Speaker 1: To this nun made answer, nay, all awaited that which
1:46:20
Speaker 1: he should say farther, whilst Nicolucho and the lady, and
1:46:24
Speaker 1: certain of the others who were there wept for compassion
1:46:26
Speaker 1: four hundred and fifty two. Then Messer Gentile, rising to
1:46:31
Speaker 1: his feet, and taking the little child in his arms,
1:46:33
Speaker 1: and the lady by the hand made for Niccolucho, and
1:46:35
Speaker 1: said to him, rise up, gossip. I do not restore
1:46:39
Speaker 1: THEE thy wife, whom thy kinsfolk and hers cast away, Nay,
1:46:43
Speaker 1: but I will well bestow on THEE this lady my gossip,
1:46:45
Speaker 1: with this her little son, whom I am assured was
1:46:49
Speaker 1: begotten of THEE, and whom I held at baptism and
1:46:51
Speaker 1: named Gentile. And I pray THEE that she be none
1:46:54
Speaker 1: the less dear to THEE, for that she hath a
1:46:56
Speaker 1: bid den near upon three months in my house. For
1:46:58
Speaker 1: I swear to THEE by that God who belike caused
1:47:01
Speaker 1: me aforetime fall in love with her, to the intent
1:47:04
Speaker 1: that my love might be as in effect it hath
1:47:06
Speaker 1: been the occasion of her deliverance, that never, whether with
1:47:10
Speaker 1: father or mother, or with THEE, hath she lived more
1:47:13
Speaker 1: chastely than she hath done with my mother in my house.
1:47:17
Speaker 1: So saying, he turned to the lady, and said to her, Madam,
1:47:20
Speaker 1: from this time forth, I absolve you of every promise
1:47:23
Speaker 1: made me, and leave you free to return to Niccolucho
1:47:27
Speaker 1: four hundred and fifty three. Then, giving the lady and
1:47:31
Speaker 1: the child into Niccolucho's arms, he returned to his seat.
1:47:35
Speaker 1: Niccolucho received them with the utmost eagerness, so much the
1:47:38
Speaker 1: more rejoiced as he was the farther removed from hope thereof,
1:47:42
Speaker 1: and thanked Messer Gentile as best he might anew whilst
1:47:45
Speaker 1: the others, who all wept for compassion, commended the latter
1:47:49
Speaker 1: a main of this yea, and he was commended of
1:47:52
Speaker 1: whosoever heard it. The lady was received in her house
1:47:55
Speaker 1: with marvelous rejoicing, and long beheld with amazement by the
1:47:58
Speaker 1: Boloonnais as one raised from the dead, Whilst Messer Gentile
1:48:02
Speaker 1: ever after abode a friend of Nicolucho and of his kinsfolk,
1:48:05
Speaker 1: and those of the lady. What, then, gentle ladies, will
1:48:10
Speaker 1: you say of this case? Is think you a king's
1:48:14
Speaker 1: having given away his scepter and his crown, or an
1:48:16
Speaker 1: abbot's having, without cost to himself, reconciled an evildoer with
1:48:20
Speaker 1: the pope or an old man's having proffered his weason
1:48:23
Speaker 1: to the enemy's knife, to be even with this deed
1:48:25
Speaker 1: of Messer gentile, who, being young and ardent in him,
1:48:29
Speaker 1: seeming he had a just title to that which the
1:48:31
Speaker 1: heedlessness of others had cast away, and he of his
1:48:33
Speaker 1: good fortune, had taken up not only honorably tempered his ardor,
1:48:37
Speaker 1: but having in his possession that which he was still won't,
1:48:40
Speaker 1: with all his thoughts to covet and to seek to
1:48:42
Speaker 1: steal away, freely restored it to its owner. Cerde's messimeth.
1:48:47
Speaker 1: None of the magnificence, as already recounted, can compare with this.
1:48:51
Speaker 1: The fifth story day the tenth Madame Dianora requireth of
1:48:54
Speaker 1: Messer and Saldo a garden as fair in January as
1:48:58
Speaker 1: in May, and he, by binding himself t o pay
1:49:01
Speaker 1: a great sum of money to a Niagramancer, giveth it
1:49:04
Speaker 1: to her. Her husband granteth her leave to do Messr
1:49:07
Speaker 1: and Saldo's pleasure. But he, hearing of the former's generosity,
1:49:11
Speaker 1: absolveth her of her promise. Whereupon the Niagramacer, in his turn,
1:49:15
Speaker 1: but quiteth Messr and Saldo of his bond, without willing
1:49:19
Speaker 1: a U g h T of his Messer Gentile, Having
1:49:22
Speaker 1: by each of the merry company been extolled to the
1:49:24
Speaker 1: very skies with the highest praise, the King charged Amelia
1:49:27
Speaker 1: follow on, who, confidently, as if eager to speak, began
1:49:31
Speaker 1: as follows, dainty Dames, None can with reason deny that
1:49:35
Speaker 1: Messer Gentile wrought magnificently. But if it be sought to
1:49:39
Speaker 1: say that his magnanimity might not be overpassed, it will
1:49:42
Speaker 1: not belike be uneath to show that more is possible.
1:49:45
Speaker 1: As I purpose to set out to you in a
1:49:46
Speaker 1: little story of mine. In Friuli, a country, though cold,
1:49:51
Speaker 1: glad with goodly mountains and store of rivers and clear springs,
1:49:55
Speaker 1: is a city called Udina, wherein was aforetime a fair
1:49:58
Speaker 1: and noble lady called Madame de Eleonora, the wife of
1:50:01
Speaker 1: a wealthy gentleman named Gilberto, who was very debonnair and
1:50:04
Speaker 1: easy of composition. The lady's charm procured her to be
1:50:08
Speaker 1: passionately loved of a noble and great baron by name
1:50:11
Speaker 1: Messer and Saldo Gridence, a man of high condition and
1:50:14
Speaker 1: everywhere renowned for prowess and courtesy. He loved her fervently
1:50:18
Speaker 1: and did all that lay in his power to be
1:50:20
Speaker 1: beloved of her, to which end he frequently solicited her
1:50:23
Speaker 1: with messages, but wearied himself in vain at last, his
1:50:28
Speaker 1: importunities being irksome to the lady. And she, seeing that
1:50:31
Speaker 1: for all she denied him everything he sought of her,
1:50:34
Speaker 1: he stinted not therefore to love and solicit her. She
1:50:37
Speaker 1: determined to seek to rid herself of him by means
1:50:39
Speaker 1: of an extraordinary and in her judgment, an impossible demand. Wherefore,
1:50:43
Speaker 1: she said one day to a woman who came often
1:50:46
Speaker 1: to her. On his part, good woman, thou hast many
1:50:49
Speaker 1: times a vouched to me that Messer Ensaldo loveth me
1:50:52
Speaker 1: over all things, and hast proffered me marvelous great gifts
1:50:55
Speaker 1: on his part, which I would have him keep to himself,
1:50:57
Speaker 1: Seeing that never thereby might I be prevailed to love
1:51:00
Speaker 1: him or comply with his wishes, But and I could
1:51:04
Speaker 1: be certified that he loveth me in very deed, as
1:51:06
Speaker 1: much as thou sayest, I might doubtless bring myself to
1:51:09
Speaker 1: love him and do that which he willeth. Wherefore, and
1:51:12
Speaker 1: he choose to certify me of this with that which
1:51:14
Speaker 1: I shall require of him, I shall be ready to
1:51:16
Speaker 1: do his commandments, quoth the good woman. And what is that, Madam,
1:51:21
Speaker 1: which you would have him do that which I desire,
1:51:24
Speaker 1: replied the lady. Is this I will have for this
1:51:28
Speaker 1: coming month of January a garden near this city, full
1:51:31
Speaker 1: of green grass and flowers, and trees in full leaf.
1:51:34
Speaker 1: No otherwise than as it were, may the which, if
1:51:37
Speaker 1: he contrived not, let him nevermore send me thee nor
1:51:40
Speaker 1: any other for that. And he importuned me more so
1:51:43
Speaker 1: surely as I have hitherto kept his pursuit hidden from
1:51:46
Speaker 1: my husband and my kinsfolk, I will study to rid
1:51:48
Speaker 1: myself of him by complaining to them. The gentleman, hearing
1:51:52
Speaker 1: the demand and the offer of his mistress, for all
1:51:55
Speaker 1: it seemed to him a hard thing, and in a
1:51:57
Speaker 1: manner impossible to do. And he knew it to be
1:51:59
Speaker 1: required of the lady for none other whate than to
1:52:01
Speaker 1: bereave him of all hope. Determined nevertheless to essay whatsoever
1:52:05
Speaker 1: might be done thereof, and sent into various parts about
1:52:07
Speaker 1: the world, inquiring if there were any to be found
1:52:11
Speaker 1: who would give him aid and counsel in the matter.
1:52:14
Speaker 1: At last he happened upon one who offered, so he
1:52:17
Speaker 1: were well girdened to do the thing by nigromantic art,
1:52:20
Speaker 1: and having agreed with him for a great sum of money,
1:52:22
Speaker 1: he joyfully awaited the appointed time, which come in the
1:52:26
Speaker 1: cold being extreme and everything full of snow and ice.
1:52:29
Speaker 1: The learned man the night before the call ends of January,
1:52:33
Speaker 1: so wrought by his arts in a very goodly meadow
1:52:35
Speaker 1: adjoining the city, that it appeared in the morning, according
1:52:38
Speaker 1: to the testimony of those who saw it, one of
1:52:40
Speaker 1: the goodliest gardens was ever seen of any, with grass
1:52:44
Speaker 1: and trees and fruits of every kind. Messer and Saldo,
1:52:48
Speaker 1: after viewing this with the utmost gladness, let call of
1:52:51
Speaker 1: the finest fruits and the fairest flowers that were there,
1:52:54
Speaker 1: and cause privily present them to his mistress, bidding her
1:52:57
Speaker 1: come and see the garden required by her, so thereby
1:52:59
Speaker 1: she might know how he loved her, And after remembering
1:53:03
Speaker 1: her of the promise, made him concealed with an oath
1:53:06
Speaker 1: bethink herself as a loyal lady to accomplish it to him.
1:53:10
Speaker 1: The lady, seeing the fruits and flowers, and having already
1:53:13
Speaker 1: for many heard tell of the miraculous garden, began to
1:53:16
Speaker 1: repent of her promise nathless, curious for all her repentance
1:53:22
Speaker 1: of seeing strange things, she went with many other ladies
1:53:25
Speaker 1: of the city to view the garden, and, having with
1:53:27
Speaker 1: no little wonderment, commended it a main returned home, the
1:53:30
Speaker 1: woefulest woman alive, bethinking her of that to which she
1:53:33
Speaker 1: was bounded thereby. Such was her chagrin that she availed
1:53:37
Speaker 1: not so well to dissemble it, but needs must it appear,
1:53:40
Speaker 1: And her husband, perceiving it was urgent to know the reason,
1:53:45
Speaker 1: the lady, for shamefastness, kept silence thereof a great while,
1:53:49
Speaker 1: but at last, constrained to speak, she orderly discovered to
1:53:53
Speaker 1: him everything, which Gilberto, hearing, was at the first sore incensed,
1:53:57
Speaker 1: but presently, considering the purity of the lady intent, and
1:54:00
Speaker 1: chasing away anger with better counsel, he said, Gianora, it
1:54:05
Speaker 1: is not the part of a discreet nor of a
1:54:07
Speaker 1: virtuous woman, to give ear unto any message of this sort,
1:54:10
Speaker 1: nor to compound with any for her chastity, under whatsoever condition.
1:54:14
Speaker 1: Words received into the heart by the channel of the
1:54:17
Speaker 1: years have more potency than many conceive, and well nigh
1:54:20
Speaker 1: every thing becometh possible to lovers. Thou didst ill then
1:54:25
Speaker 1: first to hearken, and after to enter into terms of composition.
1:54:28
Speaker 1: But for that I know the purity of thine intent,
1:54:31
Speaker 1: I will to absolve thee of the bond, of the
1:54:33
Speaker 1: promise concede, thee that which peradventure none other would do.
1:54:36
Speaker 1: Being thereto the more induced by fear of the nigromancer,
1:54:39
Speaker 1: whom Messer and Saldo and thou cheat him will may
1:54:43
Speaker 1: because make us woeful, I will then that thou go
1:54:47
Speaker 1: to him and study, to have thyself absolved of this
1:54:50
Speaker 1: thy promise, preserving thy chastity, if thou mayst any wise
1:54:53
Speaker 1: contrive it. But and it may not be otherwise, thou shalt,
1:54:57
Speaker 1: for this once yield him thy body, but not thy soul.
1:55:01
Speaker 1: The lady, hearing her husband's speech, wept and denied herself,
1:55:05
Speaker 1: willing to receive such a favor from him. But for
1:55:08
Speaker 1: all her much denial, he would e'en have it be
1:55:10
Speaker 1: so accordingly. Next morning, at daybreak, the lady, without overmuch adorning, herself,
1:55:17
Speaker 1: repaired to messr and Saldo's house, with two of her
1:55:20
Speaker 1: serving men before and a chamber woman after her. And Soldo,
1:55:25
Speaker 1: hearing that his mistress was come to him, marveled sore,
1:55:28
Speaker 1: and letting call the nigromancer said to him, I will
1:55:30
Speaker 1: have thee see what a treasure thy skill hath gotten me.
1:55:34
Speaker 1: Then going to meet her, he received her with decency
1:55:37
Speaker 1: and reverence, without ensuing any disorderly appetite, and they entered
1:55:41
Speaker 1: all four hundred and fifty four into a goodly chamber,
1:55:45
Speaker 1: wherein was a great fire. There he caused set her
1:55:48
Speaker 1: a seat, and said, Madam, I prithee, if the long
1:55:51
Speaker 1: love I have borne you merit any recompense, let it
1:55:54
Speaker 1: not irk you to discover to me the true cause
1:55:56
Speaker 1: which hath brought you hither at such an hour and
1:55:59
Speaker 1: in such company. The lady, shamefast and well nigh, with
1:56:03
Speaker 1: tears in her eyes, answered sir, neither love that I
1:56:07
Speaker 1: bear you, nor plighted faith bringeth me hither. But the
1:56:09
Speaker 1: commandment of my husband, who, having more regard to the
1:56:12
Speaker 1: travails of your disorderly passion than to his honor and
1:56:15
Speaker 1: mine own, hath caused me come hither. And by his
1:56:19
Speaker 1: behest I am for this once disposed to do your
1:56:21
Speaker 1: every pleasure. If Messer and Saldo had marveled at the
1:56:25
Speaker 1: sight of the lady, far more did he marvel. When
1:56:27
Speaker 1: he heard her words, and moved by Golberto's generosity, his
1:56:31
Speaker 1: heat began to change to compassion, and he said, God forbid,
1:56:35
Speaker 1: madam an, it be as you say, that I should
1:56:38
Speaker 1: be a marr of His honor, who hath compassion of
1:56:40
Speaker 1: my love? Wherefore you shall what while it is your
1:56:43
Speaker 1: pleasure to abide, here be no otherwise entreated than as
1:56:46
Speaker 1: you were, my sister, And when as it shall be
1:56:48
Speaker 1: agreeable to you, you are free to depart. So but
1:56:51
Speaker 1: you will render your husband on my part those thanks
1:56:55
Speaker 1: which ye shall deem befitting unto courtesy, such as his
1:56:57
Speaker 1: hath been, and have me ever in time to go
1:57:00
Speaker 1: for brother and for servant. The lady, hearing these words,
1:57:04
Speaker 1: was the joyfulest woman in the world, and answered saying,
1:57:08
Speaker 1: nothing having regard to your fashions, could ever make me
1:57:11
Speaker 1: believe that aught should ensue to me of my coming
1:57:13
Speaker 1: other than this that I see you do in the
1:57:15
Speaker 1: matter whereof I shall still be beholden to you. Then,
1:57:19
Speaker 1: taking leave, she returned under honorable escort to Messer Gilberto
1:57:23
Speaker 1: and told him that which had passed, of which there
1:57:26
Speaker 1: came about a very straight and loyal friendship between him
1:57:29
Speaker 1: and Messer and Saldo. Moreover, the nigromancer to whom the
1:57:33
Speaker 1: gentleman was forgiving the promised gurdon, seeing Gilberto's generosity towards
1:57:37
Speaker 1: his wife's lover and that of the latter towards the lady,
1:57:40
Speaker 1: said God forbid, since I have seen Gilberto liberal of
1:57:44
Speaker 1: his honor and you of your love, that I should not,
1:57:46
Speaker 1: unlike wise be liberal of my hire. Wherefore, knowing it
1:57:51
Speaker 1: four hundred and fifty five will stand you in good stead,
1:57:54
Speaker 1: I intend that it shall be yours. At this the
1:57:57
Speaker 1: gentleman was ashamed and studied to make him take for
1:58:00
Speaker 1: all or part, But seeing that he wearied himself in vain,
1:58:03
Speaker 1: and it pleasing the nigromancer, who had after three days
1:58:07
Speaker 1: done away his garden to depart, he commended him to God.
1:58:11
Speaker 1: In having extinguished from his heart his lustful love for
1:58:14
Speaker 1: the lady, he abode fired with honorable affection for her.
1:58:18
Speaker 1: How say you, now, lovesome ladies, shall we prefer gentile's
1:58:23
Speaker 1: resignation of thee in a manner, dead lady, and of
1:58:25
Speaker 1: his love already cooled for hope for spent before the
1:58:28
Speaker 1: generosity of Messer and Saldo, whose love was more ardent
1:58:31
Speaker 1: than ever, and who was in a manner fired with
1:58:33
Speaker 1: new hope holding in his hands. The prey so long
1:58:36
Speaker 1: pursued me sea method were folly to pretend that this
1:58:40
Speaker 1: generosity can be even with that. The sixth story day,
1:58:44
Speaker 1: the tenth King Charles the Old, the Victorious faith enamored
1:58:47
Speaker 1: of a young girl. But after ashamed of his fond
1:58:50
Speaker 1: thought honorably Merrieth, both her and her sister were over
1:58:54
Speaker 1: longsome fully to recount the various discourse that had placed
1:58:57
Speaker 1: among the ladies of who used the greatest generosity Gilberto
1:59:01
Speaker 1: or Messer and Saldo or the Nigromancer in Madame Dianora's affairs.
1:59:05
Speaker 1: But after the king had suffered them debate awhile, he
1:59:08
Speaker 1: looked at Fiametta and bade her telling a story put
1:59:12
Speaker 1: an end to their contention, whereupon she, without hesitation, began
1:59:17
Speaker 1: as follows, illustrious ladies. I was ever of opinion that
1:59:20
Speaker 1: in company such as ours, it should still be discoursed
1:59:24
Speaker 1: so much at large, that the over straitness four hundred
1:59:26
Speaker 1: and fifty six of intent of the things said be
1:59:29
Speaker 1: not unto any matter for debate, the which is far
1:59:32
Speaker 1: more sortable among students in the schools than among us
1:59:35
Speaker 1: women who scarce suffice unto the distaff and the spindle. Wherefore,
1:59:40
Speaker 1: seeing that you are presently at cross purposes by reason
1:59:43
Speaker 1: of the things already said, I, who had in mind
1:59:46
Speaker 1: a thing may be somewhat doubtful of meaning, will leave
1:59:49
Speaker 1: that be and tell you a story treating nowise of
1:59:52
Speaker 1: a man of little account, but of a valiant king,
1:59:54
Speaker 1: who therein wrought knightly in nothing attainting his honor. Each
1:59:59
Speaker 1: one of you must many a time have heard tell
2:00:01
Speaker 1: of King Charles the Old or, first by whose magnanimous
2:00:04
Speaker 1: and prize, and after by the glorious victory gained by
2:00:07
Speaker 1: him over King Manfred, the Ghibelins were expelled from Florence,
2:00:10
Speaker 1: and the Gwelps returned thither. In consequence of this, a
2:00:14
Speaker 1: certain gentleman called Messerneri degli Uberti, departing the city with
2:00:18
Speaker 1: all his household and much monies, and being minded to
2:00:20
Speaker 1: take refuge no otherwhere than under the hand of King Charles,
2:00:24
Speaker 1: betook himself to castellomr d. Stavia four hundred and fifty seven.
2:00:29
Speaker 1: There belike a cross bowshot removed from the other habitations
2:00:32
Speaker 1: of the place, among olive trees and walnuts and chestnuts,
2:00:36
Speaker 1: wherewith the country aboundeth he bought him an estate, and
2:00:39
Speaker 1: built thereon a goodly and commodious dwelling house, with a
2:00:42
Speaker 1: delightsome garden, thereby a middleward, which, having great plenty of
2:00:46
Speaker 1: running water, he made, after our country fashion, a goodly
2:00:50
Speaker 1: and clear fish pond, and lightly filled it with good
2:00:53
Speaker 1: store of fish, whilst he concerned himself to make his
2:00:56
Speaker 1: garden goodlier. Every day it befell that King Charles Red
2:01:00
Speaker 1: pried to Castellimare to rest himself awhile in the hot season,
2:01:03
Speaker 1: and their hearing tell of the beauty of Messerneri's garden,
2:01:07
Speaker 1: he desired to behold it. Hearing moreover to whom it belonged,
2:01:12
Speaker 1: he bethought himself that as the gentleman was of the
2:01:14
Speaker 1: party adverse to his own, it behooved to deal the
2:01:17
Speaker 1: more familiarly with him, and accordingly sent to him to
2:01:20
Speaker 1: say that he purposed to sup with him privily in
2:01:22
Speaker 1: his garden that evening he and four companions. This was
2:01:26
Speaker 1: very agreeable to Messernery, And, having made magnificent preparation and
2:01:30
Speaker 1: taken order with his household of that which was to do,
2:01:33
Speaker 1: he received the King in his fair garden as gladly
2:01:35
Speaker 1: as he might aknew the latter, after having viewed and
2:01:39
Speaker 1: commended all the garden in Messerneri's house and washed, seated
2:01:42
Speaker 1: himself at one of the tables which were set beside
2:01:45
Speaker 1: the fish pond, and seating Count Guy de Montfort, who
2:01:48
Speaker 1: was of his company on one side of him, and
2:01:50
Speaker 1: Messerneri on the other, commanded other three who were come
2:01:54
Speaker 1: thither with them, to serve according to the order appointed
2:01:57
Speaker 1: of his host. Thereupon there came dainty meats, and there
2:02:01
Speaker 1: were wines of the best and costliest, and the ordnance
2:02:03
Speaker 1: was exceeding goodly and praiseworthy, without noise or a nooi whatsoever,
2:02:08
Speaker 1: the which the King much commended. Presently as he sat
2:02:12
Speaker 1: blithely at meat, enjoying the solitary place, there entered the
2:02:15
Speaker 1: garden two young damsels of maybe fifteen years of age,
2:02:19
Speaker 1: with hair like threads of gold, all ringlet and hanging loose,
2:02:22
Speaker 1: whereon was a light chaplet of privinc blossoms. Their faces
2:02:26
Speaker 1: bespoke them rather angels than otherwat so delicately fair they were,
2:02:30
Speaker 1: and they were clad each upon her skin in a
2:02:32
Speaker 1: garment of the finest linen and whitest snow, the which
2:02:35
Speaker 1: from the waist upward was very straight, and thence hung
2:02:38
Speaker 1: down in ample folds pavilion wise to the feet. She
2:02:42
Speaker 1: who came first, bore on her left shoulder a pair
2:02:44
Speaker 1: of hand nets, and in her right hand a long pole,
2:02:47
Speaker 1: and the other had on her left shoulder a frying pan,
2:02:49
Speaker 1: and under the same arm a faggot of wood, whilst
2:02:52
Speaker 1: in her left hand she held a trivet, and in
2:02:54
Speaker 1: the other a flask of oil and a lighted flambo.
2:02:57
Speaker 1: The king, seeing them, marveled an in and suspense, awaited
2:03:01
Speaker 1: what this should mean. The damsels came forward modestly and
2:03:04
Speaker 1: blushingly did obeisance to him, then betaking themselves. Whereas one
2:03:08
Speaker 1: went down into the fish pond, she who bore the
2:03:11
Speaker 1: frying pan, set it down and the other things by it,
2:03:13
Speaker 1: and taking the pole that the other carried, they both
2:03:17
Speaker 1: entered the water, which came up to their breasts. Meanwhile,
2:03:21
Speaker 1: one of Messernary's servants deftly kindled fire under the trivit,
2:03:24
Speaker 1: and setting the pan thereon, poured therein oil, and waited
2:03:27
Speaker 1: for the damsels to throw him fish. The latter, the
2:03:31
Speaker 1: one groping with the pole in those parts whereas she
2:03:33
Speaker 1: knew the fish lay hid, and the others, standing ready
2:03:36
Speaker 1: with the net, in a short space of time, took
2:03:38
Speaker 1: fish galore, to the exceeding pleasure of the King, who
2:03:41
Speaker 1: eyed them attently, then throwing some thereof to the servant,
2:03:45
Speaker 1: who put them in the pan. While nigh alive, they proceeded,
2:03:49
Speaker 1: as they had been lessened, to take of the finest
2:03:52
Speaker 1: and cast them on the table before the king, and
2:03:54
Speaker 1: his table fellows. The fish wriggled about the table to
2:03:58
Speaker 1: the marvelous diversion of the King, who took of them
2:04:00
Speaker 1: in his turn, and sportively cast them back to the damsels.
2:04:03
Speaker 1: And on this wise they fralicted the while till such
2:04:07
Speaker 1: time as the servant had cooked the fish which had
2:04:09
Speaker 1: been given him, in which messernary, having so ordered it,
2:04:12
Speaker 1: were now set before the king, more as a relish
2:04:15
Speaker 1: than as any very rare and delectable dish. The damsels,
2:04:19
Speaker 1: seeing the fish cooked, and having taken enough, came forth
2:04:22
Speaker 1: of the water their thin white garments, all clinging to
2:04:25
Speaker 1: their skins and hiding well nigh not of their delicate bodies,
2:04:28
Speaker 1: and passing shamefastly before the King returned to the house.
2:04:33
Speaker 1: The latter and the Count and the others who served
2:04:35
Speaker 1: had well considered the damsels, and each inwardly greatly commended
2:04:38
Speaker 1: them for fair and well chopin no less than for
2:04:41
Speaker 1: agreeable and well mannered. But above all they pleased the King,
2:04:45
Speaker 1: who had so intently eyed every part of their bodies
2:04:48
Speaker 1: as they came forth of the water, that had any
2:04:51
Speaker 1: then pricked him, he would not have felt it. And
2:04:53
Speaker 1: as he called them more particularly to mind, unknowing who
2:04:56
Speaker 1: they were, he felt a very fervent desire awaken in
2:04:59
Speaker 1: his heart to please them, whereby he right well perceived
2:05:03
Speaker 1: himself to be in danger of becoming enamored. And he
2:05:06
Speaker 1: took no heed to himself there against nor knew he
2:05:09
Speaker 1: indeed whether of the twain it was, the more pleased him.
2:05:11
Speaker 1: So like in all things, was the one to the
2:05:13
Speaker 1: other after he had a bid. Then a while in
2:05:16
Speaker 1: this thought he turned to MESSERNERI and asked him who
2:05:19
Speaker 1: were the two damsels, to which the gentleman answered, my Lord,
2:05:22
Speaker 1: these are my daughters born at a birth whereof the
2:05:25
Speaker 1: one is called Geneva, the fair, and the other I
2:05:27
Speaker 1: saw to the blonde. The King commended them greatly, and
2:05:31
Speaker 1: exhorted him to marry them, whereof Messernari excused himself for
2:05:35
Speaker 1: that he was no more able thereunto Meanwhile, nothing now
2:05:39
Speaker 1: remaining to be served of the supper but the fruits.
2:05:42
Speaker 1: There came the two damsels in very goodly gowns of Sindal,
2:05:45
Speaker 1: with two great silver platters in their hands, full of
2:05:48
Speaker 1: various fruits, such as the season afforded. And these they
2:05:51
Speaker 1: sat on the table before the king, which done they
2:05:55
Speaker 1: withdrew a little apart, and fell to singing a cans
2:05:57
Speaker 1: on it, whereof the words began, thus whereas I am
2:06:00
Speaker 1: come o love, it might not be indeed, at length recounted,
2:06:05
Speaker 1: et cetera, this song they caroled on, such dulcet wise
2:06:09
Speaker 1: and so delightsomely that to the king, who beheld and
2:06:12
Speaker 1: hearkened to them with ravishment, it seemed as if all
2:06:15
Speaker 1: the hierarchies of the angels were lighted there to sing
2:06:18
Speaker 1: the song's sung. They fell on their knees and respectfully
2:06:21
Speaker 1: craved of him leave to depart, who, albeit their departure
2:06:25
Speaker 1: was grievous to him, yet with a show of blithness,
2:06:27
Speaker 1: accorded it to them. The supper being now at an end,
2:06:31
Speaker 1: the king remounted to horse with his company, and leaving Messernary,
2:06:35
Speaker 1: returned to the royal lodging, devising of one thing and
2:06:38
Speaker 1: another there, holding his passion hidden, but availing not for
2:06:43
Speaker 1: whatsoever great affair might supervene to forget the beauty and
2:06:46
Speaker 1: grace of Geneva, the fair for love of whom he
2:06:49
Speaker 1: loved her sister also, who was like unto her. He
2:06:52
Speaker 1: became so fast entangled in the amorous snares that he
2:06:55
Speaker 1: could think of well nigh nought else. In feigning other occasions,
2:06:59
Speaker 1: kept a straight in intimacy with MESSERNAERI, and very often
2:07:02
Speaker 1: visited his fair garden to see Geneva. At last, unable
2:07:06
Speaker 1: to endure longer, and bethinking himself in default of other
2:07:10
Speaker 1: means of compassing his desire to take not one alone,
2:07:13
Speaker 1: but both of the damsels from their father, he discovered
2:07:16
Speaker 1: both his passion and his intent to count guy, who
2:07:20
Speaker 1: for that he was an honorable man, said to him,
2:07:22
Speaker 1: my lord, I marvel greatly at that which you tell me,
2:07:25
Speaker 1: and that more than would another. Inasmuch as Messiameth I
2:07:28
Speaker 1: have from your childhood to this day known your fashions
2:07:31
Speaker 1: better than any other. Wherefore, meseeming never to have known
2:07:34
Speaker 1: such a passion in your youth, wherein love might lightlier
2:07:38
Speaker 1: have fixed his talents, and seeing you presently hard upon
2:07:41
Speaker 1: old age, it is so new and so strange to
2:07:44
Speaker 1: me that you should love by way of enymorment for
2:07:46
Speaker 1: one hundred and fifty eight that it seemeth to me well,
2:07:49
Speaker 1: nigamercal And were it my office to reprove you thereof,
2:07:52
Speaker 1: I know well that which I should say to you
2:07:54
Speaker 1: therein end, having in regard that you are yet with
2:07:57
Speaker 1: your harness on your back, in a kingdom newly gained
2:08:00
Speaker 1: amidst a people unknown and full of wiles and treasons,
2:08:03
Speaker 1: and are all occupied with very grave cares and matters
2:08:06
Speaker 1: of high moment. Nor have you yet availed to seat
2:08:08
Speaker 1: yourself in security. And yet among such and so many
2:08:12
Speaker 1: affairs you have made place for the allurements of love.
2:08:16
Speaker 1: This is not the fashion of a magnanimous king, nay,
2:08:20
Speaker 1: but rather that of a pusillanimous boy. Moreover, what is
2:08:24
Speaker 1: far worse. You say that you are resolved to take
2:08:26
Speaker 1: his two daughters from a gentleman who hath entertained you
2:08:29
Speaker 1: in his house beyond his means, and who to do
2:08:31
Speaker 1: you the more honor hath shown you these twain in
2:08:34
Speaker 1: a manner naked, thereby attesting how great is the faith
2:08:38
Speaker 1: he hath in you, and that he firmly believeth you
2:08:40
Speaker 1: to be a king and not a ravening wolf. Again,
2:08:43
Speaker 1: hath it so soon dropped your memory that it was
2:08:46
Speaker 1: the violences done of Manford to women that opened you
2:08:48
Speaker 1: the entry into this kingdom? What treason was ever wroughten
2:08:52
Speaker 1: more deserving of eternal punishment than this? Would be? That
2:08:55
Speaker 1: ye should take from him who hospitably entreateth you his
2:08:57
Speaker 1: honor and hope and comfort? What would be said of
2:09:00
Speaker 1: you and ye should do it? You think maybe it
2:09:04
Speaker 1: were a sufficient excuse to say I did it, for
2:09:07
Speaker 1: that he is a ghibeline? Is this of the justice
2:09:10
Speaker 1: of kings that they who resored on such wise to
2:09:12
Speaker 1: their arms should be entreated after such a fashion? Be
2:09:15
Speaker 1: they who they? May? Let me tell you, King, that
2:09:19
Speaker 1: it was an exceedingly great glory to you to have
2:09:21
Speaker 1: overcome Manfred, but a far greater one it is to
2:09:24
Speaker 1: overcome one's self. Wherefore do you, who have to correct others,
2:09:28
Speaker 1: conquer yourself and curb this appetite, nor offer with such
2:09:31
Speaker 1: a blot to Martha, which you have so gloriously gained.
2:09:35
Speaker 1: These words stung the King's conscience to the quick, and
2:09:38
Speaker 1: afflicted him the more inasmuch as he knew them for true. Wherefore,
2:09:41
Speaker 1: after sundry heavy size, he said, curdies, count, I hold
2:09:46
Speaker 1: every other enemy, however strong weaken, eath enough to the
2:09:49
Speaker 1: well essoned warrior to overcome, in comparison with his own appetites,
2:09:53
Speaker 1: natless great as is the travail, and inexpressible as is
2:09:57
Speaker 1: the might it requireth Your words have so stirred me
2:10:00
Speaker 1: that needs must I ere many days be passed, cause
2:10:03
Speaker 1: you see by deed that like as I know how
2:10:05
Speaker 1: to conquer others, even so do I know how to
2:10:07
Speaker 1: overcome myself. Nor had many days passed after this discourse,
2:10:12
Speaker 1: when the King, having returned to Naples, determined as well
2:10:16
Speaker 1: to deprive himself of occasion to do dishonorably as to
2:10:19
Speaker 1: requite the gentleman the hospitality received from him to go about,
2:10:23
Speaker 1: grievous as it was to him, to make others possessors
2:10:26
Speaker 1: of that which he coveted over all for himself, to
2:10:28
Speaker 1: marry the two young ladies, and that not as Messerneri's daughters,
2:10:32
Speaker 1: but as his own. Accordingly, with Messernari's accord, he dowered
2:10:37
Speaker 1: them magnificently, and gave Geneva the Fair to Messer Mafio
2:10:40
Speaker 1: to Polizzi, and Isota the Blonde to Messer Galielmo della Magna,
2:10:44
Speaker 1: both noble cavaliers and great barons, to whom, with inexpressible
2:10:48
Speaker 1: chagrin consigning them, he betook himself into Apulia, where, with
2:10:52
Speaker 1: continual fatigues, he so mortified the fierceness of his appetite, that,
2:10:56
Speaker 1: having burst and broken the chains of love, he abode
2:10:59
Speaker 1: free of such passion for the rest of his life.
2:11:02
Speaker 1: There is some belike who will say that it was
2:11:04
Speaker 1: a little thing for a king to have married two
2:11:06
Speaker 1: young ladies, and that I will allow, but a great
2:11:09
Speaker 1: and a very great thing I call it. If we
2:11:11
Speaker 1: consider that it was a king enamored who did this,
2:11:14
Speaker 1: and who married to another her whom he loved, without
2:11:16
Speaker 1: having gotten or taking of his love leaf or flower
2:11:19
Speaker 1: or fruit. On this wise, then did this magnanimous king
2:11:24
Speaker 1: at once magnificently girdening the noble gentleman, laudably honoring the
2:11:28
Speaker 1: young ladies whom he loved and bravely overcoming himself. The
2:11:32
Speaker 1: seventh story day, the tenth King Pedro of Aragon, coming
2:11:35
Speaker 1: too know the fervent love borne him by Lisa, comforteth
2:11:38
Speaker 1: the love sick maid, and presently marrieth her two a
2:11:41
Speaker 1: noble young gentleman, then kissing her on the brow. He,
2:11:45
Speaker 1: ever after avoucheth himself for night, Fiametta having made an
2:11:48
Speaker 1: end of her story, and the manful magnanimity of King
2:11:51
Speaker 1: Charles having been much commended, Albeit there was one lady
2:11:54
Speaker 1: there who, being a ghibeline, was loath to praise him. Pampinia,
2:11:58
Speaker 1: by the king's commandment, began. Thus there is no one
2:12:01
Speaker 1: of understanding, worshipful ladies, but would say that which you
2:12:05
Speaker 1: say of good King Charles, except she bare him ill
2:12:08
Speaker 1: will for otherwot but for that there occurreth to my
2:12:11
Speaker 1: memory a thing belike no less commendable than this done
2:12:14
Speaker 1: of one his adversary to one of our Florentine damsels.
2:12:17
Speaker 1: It pleaseth me to relate it to you. At the
2:12:21
Speaker 1: time of the expulsion of the French from Sicily, one
2:12:23
Speaker 1: of our Florentines was an apothecary at Palermo, a very
2:12:27
Speaker 1: rich man called Bernardo Puccini, who had by his wife
2:12:30
Speaker 1: and only daughter, a very fair damsel, and already apt
2:12:33
Speaker 1: for marriage. Now King Pedro of Aragon become lord of
2:12:37
Speaker 1: the island, held high festival with his barons at Palermo,
2:12:41
Speaker 1: wherein he tilting after the Catalan fashion. It chanced that
2:12:44
Speaker 1: Bernardo's daughter, whose name was Lisa, saw him running at
2:12:48
Speaker 1: the ring from a window where she was with other ladies,
2:12:50
Speaker 1: and he so marvelously pleased her that, looking upon him
2:12:54
Speaker 1: once and again, she fell passionately in love with him.
2:12:58
Speaker 1: And the festival ended, and she abiding an her father's house.
2:13:01
Speaker 1: She could think of nothing but of this, her illustrious
2:13:03
Speaker 1: and exalted love. And what most irked her in this
2:13:07
Speaker 1: was the consciousness of her own mean condition, which scarce
2:13:10
Speaker 1: suffered her to cherish any hope of a happy issue. Nathless.
2:13:13
Speaker 1: She could not therefore bring herself to leave loving the king,
2:13:16
Speaker 1: albeit for fear of greater annoy she dared not discover
2:13:20
Speaker 1: her passion. The king had not perceived this thing, and
2:13:24
Speaker 1: wrecked not of her, wherefore she suffered intolerable chagrin past
2:13:27
Speaker 1: all that can be imagined. Thus it befell that love
2:13:31
Speaker 1: still waxing in her, and Melancholy Redoubling upon Melancholy, the
2:13:35
Speaker 1: fair maid, unable to endure more, fell sick and wasted
2:13:39
Speaker 1: visibly away from day to day like snow in the sun.
2:13:43
Speaker 1: Her father and mother sore concerned for this that befell her,
2:13:46
Speaker 1: studied with assiduous tenderness to hearten her, and succored her
2:13:49
Speaker 1: inasmuch as might be with physicians and medicines. But it
2:13:52
Speaker 1: availed nothing, for that, despairing of her love, she had
2:13:56
Speaker 1: elected to live no longer. It chanced one day that
2:14:00
Speaker 1: her father, offering to do her every pleasure, she bethought herself,
2:14:03
Speaker 1: and she might aptly to seek before she died, to
2:14:07
Speaker 1: make the king acquainted with her love and her intent.
2:14:09
Speaker 1: And accordingly she prayed him bring her Manucho Derezzo. Now,
2:14:13
Speaker 1: this Minucho was, in those days held a very quaint
2:14:16
Speaker 1: and subtle singer and player, and was gladly seen of
2:14:18
Speaker 1: the king, And Bernardo concluded that Lisa had a mind
2:14:21
Speaker 1: to hear him sing and play. Awhile, accordingly he sent
2:14:26
Speaker 1: to tell him, and Manucho, who was a man of
2:14:28
Speaker 1: a debonair humor incontinent, came to her, and, having some deal,
2:14:31
Speaker 1: comforted her with kindly speech, softly played her a fit
2:14:35
Speaker 1: or two on a vial he had with him, and
2:14:37
Speaker 1: after sang her sundry songs, the which were fire and flame,
2:14:40
Speaker 1: unto the damsel's passion. Whereas he thought to solace her presently,
2:14:45
Speaker 1: she told him that she would fain speak some words
2:14:47
Speaker 1: with him alone. Wherefore, all else having withdrawn, she said
2:14:51
Speaker 1: to him, Manucho, I have chosen THEE to keep me
2:14:53
Speaker 1: very faithfully a secret of mine, hoping in the first
2:14:56
Speaker 1: place that thou wilt never discover it to any one
2:14:59
Speaker 1: save to him of whom I shall tell THEE. And
2:15:02
Speaker 1: after that thou wilt help me in that which leeth
2:15:04
Speaker 1: in Thy power. And of this I pray THEE. Thou
2:15:06
Speaker 1: must know than Minucho mine that the day our lord
2:15:10
Speaker 1: King Pedro held the great festival in honor of his
2:15:12
Speaker 1: exaltation to the throne, it befell me as he tilted
2:15:17
Speaker 1: to espy him at so Dour a point four hundred
2:15:19
Speaker 1: and fifty nine, that for the love of him there
2:15:21
Speaker 1: was kindled in my heart a fire that hath brought
2:15:23
Speaker 1: me to this pass wherein thou sayest me, and knowing
2:15:26
Speaker 1: how will my love beseemeth to a king, yet availing
2:15:29
Speaker 1: not let alone to drive it away, but even to
2:15:32
Speaker 1: abate it, and it being beyond measure grievous to me
2:15:34
Speaker 1: to bear, I have, as a lesser evil, elected to
2:15:38
Speaker 1: die as I shall do. True, it is that I
2:15:41
Speaker 1: should be gone, hence cruelly disconsolate. And he first knew
2:15:44
Speaker 1: it not Wherefore, unknowing by whom I could more aptly
2:15:47
Speaker 1: acquaint him with this my resolution than by thyself, I
2:15:50
Speaker 1: desire to commit it to THEE, and pray THEE that
2:15:52
Speaker 1: thou refuse not to do it, and when as thou
2:15:55
Speaker 1: shalt have done it, that thou give me to know thereof,
2:15:58
Speaker 1: so that dying comforted, I may be as oiled of
2:16:01
Speaker 1: these my pains. And this said she stinted, weeping. Minucho
2:16:07
Speaker 1: marveled at the greatness of the damsel's soul and at
2:16:09
Speaker 1: her cruel resolve, and was sore concerned for her. Then
2:16:12
Speaker 1: it suddenly occurring to his mind how he might honorably
2:16:15
Speaker 1: oblige her. He said to her, Lisa, I pledge THEE
2:16:18
Speaker 1: my faith, whereof thou mayst live, assured that thou wilt
2:16:21
Speaker 1: never find thyself deceived. And after commending THEE of so
2:16:25
Speaker 1: high an im prize as it is to have set
2:16:27
Speaker 1: thy mind upon so great a king. I proffer THEE
2:16:30
Speaker 1: mine aid by means, whereof I hope an thou wilt
2:16:33
Speaker 1: but take comfort. So to do that ere three days
2:16:36
Speaker 1: be passed, I doubt not to bring THEE news that
2:16:38
Speaker 1: will be exceeding grateful to THEE, and to lose no time.
2:16:42
Speaker 1: I mean to go about it forthright. Lisa, having anew,
2:16:46
Speaker 1: besought him a man thereof, and promised him to take comfort,
2:16:49
Speaker 1: bade him God's speed. Whereupon Minuco, taking his leave, betook
2:16:53
Speaker 1: himself to one Miko de Siena, a mighty good rhymer
2:16:56
Speaker 1: of those days, and constrained him with prayers to make
2:16:59
Speaker 1: the following kansa bestir THEE love, and get THEE to
2:17:03
Speaker 1: my sire, and tell him all the torments I abide.
2:17:06
Speaker 1: Tell him I'm like to die for fearfulness, concealing my
2:17:09
Speaker 1: desire love. With clasped hands, I cry THEE mercy, so
2:17:13
Speaker 1: thou mayst betake THEE where my lord doth dwell say
2:17:17
Speaker 1: that I love and long for him, For lo my
2:17:19
Speaker 1: heart he hath inflamed, so sadly well yea for the fire,
2:17:23
Speaker 1: wherewith I'm all aglow I fear to dine. Nor yet
2:17:26
Speaker 1: the hour can tell when I shall part from pain
2:17:28
Speaker 1: so fierce and fell as that which, longing for his sake,
2:17:31
Speaker 1: I dree and shame and fear ahe me for God's sake,
2:17:34
Speaker 1: cause him know my torment dire Since first enamored love
2:17:39
Speaker 1: of him I grew Thou hast not given me the
2:17:41
Speaker 1: heart to dare so much as one poor wants my
2:17:44
Speaker 1: lord unto my love, and longing plainly to declare my Lord,
2:17:47
Speaker 1: who mocketh me so sore to rue death dying, thus
2:17:50
Speaker 1: were hard to me to bear Belike Indeed, for he
2:17:54
Speaker 1: is debonair, twould not displease him? Did he know what
2:17:57
Speaker 1: pain I feel? And didst thou dame me daring to
2:18:00
Speaker 1: make known to him my fire? Yet, since twas not
2:18:03
Speaker 1: thy pleasure to impart love, such assurance to me that
2:18:07
Speaker 1: by glance or sign or writ I might make know
2:18:09
Speaker 1: my heart unto my Lord. For my deliverance, I prithee
2:18:12
Speaker 1: sweep my master of thine art, get thee to him,
2:18:14
Speaker 1: and give him souvenants. Of that fair day I saw
2:18:17
Speaker 1: him shield and lance bare with the other knights and
2:18:19
Speaker 1: looking more enamored, fell so sore my heart thereof doth
2:18:23
Speaker 1: perish and expire these words. Manucho forthwith set to a
2:18:28
Speaker 1: soft and plaintive air, such as the matter thereof required.
2:18:31
Speaker 1: And on the third day he betook himself to court,
2:18:34
Speaker 1: where King Pedro, being yet at meat, he was bidden
2:18:37
Speaker 1: by him singing somewhat to his vial. Thereupon he fell
2:18:40
Speaker 1: to singing the song aforesaid on such dulcet wise that
2:18:43
Speaker 1: all who were in the royal hall appeared menistanie. So
2:18:46
Speaker 1: still an attent stood they all to hearken, and the
2:18:49
Speaker 1: king may be more than the others. Minucho, having made
2:18:52
Speaker 1: an end of his singing, the King inquired whence came
2:18:55
Speaker 1: this song that him seemed he had never before heard.
2:18:59
Speaker 1: My lord replied the minstrel, it is not yet three
2:19:02
Speaker 1: days since the words were made in the air. The
2:19:05
Speaker 1: king asked for whom it had been made, and Manucho answered,
2:19:08
Speaker 1: I dare not discover it, save to you alone. The King,
2:19:12
Speaker 1: desirous to hear it, as soon as the tables were removed,
2:19:16
Speaker 1: sent for Manucho into his chamber, and the latter orderly
2:19:18
Speaker 1: recounted to him all that he had heard from Lisa,
2:19:21
Speaker 1: wherewith Don Pedro was exceeding well pleased and much commended
2:19:24
Speaker 1: the damsel, a vouching himself resolved to have compassion of
2:19:28
Speaker 1: so worthful a young lady, and bidding him therefore go
2:19:31
Speaker 1: comfort her on his part and tell her that he
2:19:32
Speaker 1: would without fail come to visit her that day towards
2:19:35
Speaker 1: Vesper's Minucho, overjoyed to be the bearer of such pleasing news,
2:19:40
Speaker 1: betook himself in continent vilenal to the damsel, and, bespeaking
2:19:44
Speaker 1: her in private, recounted to her all that had passed,
2:19:47
Speaker 1: and after sang her the song to his vile whereat,
2:19:50
Speaker 1: she was so rejoiced and so content that she straightway
2:19:53
Speaker 1: showed manifest signs of great amendment, and longingly awaited the
2:19:56
Speaker 1: hour of Vespers, when as her lord should come, without
2:20:00
Speaker 1: any of the household knowing or guessing how the case stood. Meanwhile,
2:20:04
Speaker 1: the King, who was a debonair and generous prince, having
2:20:08
Speaker 1: sundry times, taken thought to the things heard from Manuccho,
2:20:10
Speaker 1: and very well knowing the damsel and her beauty, waxed
2:20:13
Speaker 1: yet more pitiful over her, and mounting to horse towards Vespers,
2:20:17
Speaker 1: under color of going abroad for his diversion, betook himself
2:20:20
Speaker 1: to the apothecary's house, where, having required a very goodly garden,
2:20:25
Speaker 1: which he had to be opened to him, he alighted
2:20:27
Speaker 1: therein and presently asked Bernardo what was come of his daughter,
2:20:30
Speaker 1: and if he had yet married her? My lord replied
2:20:34
Speaker 1: the apothecary, she is not married. Nay, she hath been,
2:20:37
Speaker 1: and is yet very sick. Albeit it is true that
2:20:40
Speaker 1: since none she hath mended marvelously. The king readily apprehended
2:20:45
Speaker 1: what this amendment meant, and said, in good sooth, were
2:20:48
Speaker 1: pity so fair a creature should be yet taken from
2:20:50
Speaker 1: the world, we would fain go visit her. Accordingly. A
2:20:55
Speaker 1: little after he betook himself with Bernardo and two companions
2:20:59
Speaker 1: only to her chain, and going up to the bed
2:21:01
Speaker 1: where the damsel, some deal appraised four hundred and sixty
2:21:04
Speaker 1: awaited him with impatience, took her by the hand and
2:21:07
Speaker 1: said to her, what meaneth this, my mistress? You are
2:21:11
Speaker 1: young and should comfort other women, Yet you suffer yourself
2:21:14
Speaker 1: to be sick. We would beseech you be pleased, for
2:21:18
Speaker 1: the love of us, to hearten yourself on such wise
2:21:20
Speaker 1: that you may speedily be whole again. The damsel, feeling
2:21:25
Speaker 1: herself touched of his hands, whom she loved over all else,
2:21:28
Speaker 1: albeit she was somewhat shamefast, felt yet such gladness in
2:21:31
Speaker 1: her heart as she were in paradise, and answered him
2:21:34
Speaker 1: as best she might, saying, my Lord, my having willed
2:21:38
Speaker 1: to subject my little strength unto very grievous burdens, hath
2:21:41
Speaker 1: been the cause to me of this mine infirmity, whereof
2:21:44
Speaker 1: thanks to your goodness, ye shall soon see me quit.
2:21:48
Speaker 1: The King alone understood the damsel's covert speech, and held
2:21:51
Speaker 1: her momently of more account nay sundry, whiles he inwardly
2:21:54
Speaker 1: cursed fortune who had made her daughter unto such a man. Then,
2:21:58
Speaker 1: after he had tarried with her a wife, and comforted
2:22:00
Speaker 1: her yet more, he took his leave. This humanity of
2:22:04
Speaker 1: the king was greatly commended and attributed for great honor
2:22:07
Speaker 1: to the apothecary and his daughter, which latter abode as
2:22:10
Speaker 1: well pleased as ever was woman of her lover, and
2:22:12
Speaker 1: sustained of better hope. In a few days, recovered and
2:22:15
Speaker 1: became fairer than ever when she was whole again, The king,
2:22:19
Speaker 1: having taken counsel with the Queen, of what return he
2:22:22
Speaker 1: should make her for so much love. Mounting one day
2:22:25
Speaker 1: to horse with many of his barons, repaired to the
2:22:27
Speaker 1: apothecary's house, and entering the garden, let call Master Bernardo
2:22:31
Speaker 1: and his daughter. Then the Queen, presently coming thither with
2:22:35
Speaker 1: many ladies, and having received Lisa among them, they fell
2:22:38
Speaker 1: to making wonder Mary. After a while, the King and
2:22:42
Speaker 1: Queen called Lisa to them, and the former said to her,
2:22:45
Speaker 1: noble damsel, the much love you have borne us have
2:22:48
Speaker 1: gotten you a great honor from us, wherewith we would
2:22:50
Speaker 1: have you for the love of us. Be content to
2:22:52
Speaker 1: wit that, since you are apt for marriage, we would
2:22:55
Speaker 1: have you take him to husband, whom we shall bestow
2:22:57
Speaker 1: on you. Purposing notwithstanding this, to call ourselves still your knight,
2:23:03
Speaker 1: without desiring aught from you of so much love, but
2:23:06
Speaker 1: one soul kiss. The damsel grown all vermal in the
2:23:10
Speaker 1: face for shamefastness making the king's pleasure, hers replied in
2:23:14
Speaker 1: a low voice, on this wise, my lord, I am
2:23:16
Speaker 1: well assured that were it known that I had fallen
2:23:19
Speaker 1: enamored of you, most folk would account me mad. Therefore,
2:23:22
Speaker 1: thinking belike that I had forgotten myself and knew not
2:23:25
Speaker 1: mine own condition, nor yet yours. But God, who alone
2:23:29
Speaker 1: seet the hearts of mortals, knoweth that in that same hour,
2:23:32
Speaker 1: when as first you pleased me, I knew you for
2:23:35
Speaker 1: a king, and myself for the daughter of Bernardo the Apothecary,
2:23:38
Speaker 1: and that it ill beseemed me to address the ardor
2:23:40
Speaker 1: of my soul unto so high a place. But as
2:23:44
Speaker 1: you know far better than I, none here below fallth
2:23:46
Speaker 1: in love according to fitness of election, but according to
2:23:49
Speaker 1: appetite and inclination, against which law I once and again
2:23:52
Speaker 1: strove with all my might, till availing no farther. I loved,
2:23:56
Speaker 1: and loved, and shall ever love you. But since first
2:24:00
Speaker 1: I felt myself taken with love of you, I determined
2:24:03
Speaker 1: still to make your will mine. Wherefore, not only will
2:24:06
Speaker 1: I gladly obey you in this matter of taking a
2:24:08
Speaker 1: husband at your hands and holding him dear, whom it
2:24:10
Speaker 1: shall please you to bestow on me, since that will
2:24:13
Speaker 1: be mine honor and estate, but should you bid me
2:24:15
Speaker 1: abide in a fire, it were a delight to me,
2:24:19
Speaker 1: and I thought thereby to pleasure you, to have you
2:24:22
Speaker 1: a king to night. You know how far it befitteth
2:24:25
Speaker 1: me wherefore to that I make no farther answer, nor
2:24:28
Speaker 1: shall the kiss be vouchsafed you, which alone of my
2:24:31
Speaker 1: love you would have without leave of my lady the Queen.
2:24:35
Speaker 1: Nayless of such graciousness as hath been yours towards me
2:24:38
Speaker 1: and that of our lady the Queen. Here, God render
2:24:40
Speaker 1: you for me both thanks and recompense, for I have
2:24:43
Speaker 1: not the wherewithal. And with that she was silent. Her
2:24:47
Speaker 1: answer much pleased the Queen, and she seemed to her
2:24:50
Speaker 1: as discreet as the king had reported her. Don Pedro
2:24:54
Speaker 1: then let call the girl's father and mother, and, finding
2:24:56
Speaker 1: that they were well pleased with that which he purposed
2:24:58
Speaker 1: to do, summon the young man by name Perdicone, who
2:25:02
Speaker 1: was of gentle birth, but poor, and giving certain rings
2:25:05
Speaker 1: into his hand, married him nothing loath to Lisa, which
2:25:09
Speaker 1: done he then, and there over and above many and
2:25:12
Speaker 1: precious jewels bestowed by the Queen and himself upon the damsel,
2:25:16
Speaker 1: gave him Cephalu and Calatabolada, two very rich and goodly fiefs,
2:25:20
Speaker 1: and said to him these we give thee to the
2:25:22
Speaker 1: ladies dowry that which we purpose to do for thyself,
2:25:26
Speaker 1: thou shalt see in time to come. This said, he
2:25:30
Speaker 1: turned to the damsel, and, saying now will we take
2:25:32
Speaker 1: that fruit which we are to have of your love,
2:25:34
Speaker 1: took her head in his hands and kissed her on
2:25:36
Speaker 1: the brow. Perdicone, and Lisa's father and mother well pleased,
2:25:41
Speaker 1: as indeed was she herself held high festival and joyous nuptials,
2:25:45
Speaker 1: And according as many a vouch, the king very faithfully
2:25:48
Speaker 1: kept his covenant with the damsel. For that whilst she lived.
2:25:52
Speaker 1: He still styled himself for night, nor ever went about
2:25:55
Speaker 1: any deed of arms, but he wore none other favor
2:25:57
Speaker 1: than that which was sent him of her. It is
2:26:00
Speaker 1: by doing then, on this wise, that subject's hearts are gained,
2:26:04
Speaker 1: that others are incited to do well, and that eternal
2:26:07
Speaker 1: renown is acquired. But this is a market which few
2:26:09
Speaker 1: or none nowadays bend the bow of their understanding, most
2:26:12
Speaker 1: princes being presently grown cruel and tyrannical. The eighth story
2:26:17
Speaker 1: day the tenth Sophronia, thinking too merry, Jysippus becometh the
2:26:21
Speaker 1: wife of Titus Quintius Fulvus, and with him bettacketh herself
2:26:24
Speaker 1: too Rome. Whether Jysippus cometh in poor case and conceiving
2:26:27
Speaker 1: himself slighted of Titus, declareth so he may die. The
2:26:31
Speaker 1: O have slain a man, Titus, recognizing him, the O
2:26:36
Speaker 1: save him a voucheth himself. THEO have done the deed,
2:26:39
Speaker 1: and the true murderer, seeing this, discovereth himself. Whereupon they
2:26:43
Speaker 1: are all three liberated by Octavianus, and Titus, giving Jysippus
2:26:47
Speaker 1: his sister to wife hath all his good in common
2:26:50
Speaker 1: with him, Pampinia having left, speaking, and all having commended
2:26:53
Speaker 1: King Pedro, the ghibeling lady more than the rest Fiametta,
2:26:58
Speaker 1: by the king's commandment began. Thus, illustrious ladies, who is
2:27:02
Speaker 1: there knoweth not that kings, when they will, can do
2:27:05
Speaker 1: everything great, and that it is to boot especially required
2:27:08
Speaker 1: of them that they be magnificent. Whoso, then, having the power,
2:27:13
Speaker 1: doth that which pertaineth unto him, doth well. But folk
2:27:16
Speaker 1: should not so much marvel thereat, nor exalt him to
2:27:19
Speaker 1: such a height with supreme praise, as it would behold
2:27:21
Speaker 1: them do with another of whom, for lack of means
2:27:24
Speaker 1: less were required. Wherefore, if you, with such words extol
2:27:28
Speaker 1: the actions of kings, and they seem to you fair,
2:27:31
Speaker 1: I doubt not anywise, but those of our peers, when
2:27:34
Speaker 1: as they are like unto or greater than those of kings,
2:27:37
Speaker 1: will please you yet more and be yet highlier commended
2:27:39
Speaker 1: of you. And I purpose accordingly to recount to you
2:27:42
Speaker 1: in a story the praiseworthy and magnanimous dealings of two
2:27:47
Speaker 1: citizens and friends with each other. You must know then,
2:27:51
Speaker 1: that at the time when Octavianus Caesar, not yet styled Augustus,
2:27:55
Speaker 1: ruled the Roman Empire in the office called triumviric, there
2:27:58
Speaker 1: was in Rome a gentleman called Publius Quintius Fulvus four
2:28:01
Speaker 1: hundred and sixty one, who, having a son of marvelous
2:28:05
Speaker 1: understanding by name Titus Quintius Fulvus, sent him to Athens
2:28:10
Speaker 1: to study philosophy, and commended him as most he might
2:28:12
Speaker 1: to a nobleman their called Creams, his very old friend,
2:28:15
Speaker 1: by whom Titus was lodged in his own house in
2:28:18
Speaker 1: company of a son of his called Jusippus, and set
2:28:21
Speaker 1: to study with the latter under the governance of a
2:28:23
Speaker 1: philosopher named Aristippus. The two young men, coming to consort together,
2:28:28
Speaker 1: found each other's usances so conformable that there was born
2:28:31
Speaker 1: thereof a brotherhood between them, and a friendship so great
2:28:34
Speaker 1: that it was never sundered by other accident than death.
2:28:37
Speaker 1: And neither of them knew will nor peace, save in
2:28:39
Speaker 1: so much as they were together entering upon their studies,
2:28:43
Speaker 1: and being each alike endowed with the highest understanding, they
2:28:46
Speaker 1: ascended with equal step and marvelous commendation to the glorious
2:28:49
Speaker 1: altitudes of philosophy. And in this way of life they
2:28:52
Speaker 1: continued good three years to the exceeding contentment of Creams,
2:28:57
Speaker 1: who in a manner looked upon the one as no
2:28:59
Speaker 1: more his son than the us the other. At the
2:29:01
Speaker 1: end of this time it befell, even as it befalleth
2:29:04
Speaker 1: of all things, that Creams, now an old man, departed
2:29:07
Speaker 1: this life whereof the two young men suffered alike sorrow
2:29:11
Speaker 1: as for a common father. Nor could his friends and
2:29:14
Speaker 1: kinsfolk discern which of the twain was the more in
2:29:17
Speaker 1: need of consolation for that which had betided them. It
2:29:20
Speaker 1: came to pass after some months that the friends and
2:29:23
Speaker 1: kinsfolk of Jysippus resorted to him, and, together with Titus,
2:29:26
Speaker 1: exhorted him to take a wife, to which he consenting.
2:29:29
Speaker 1: They found him a young Athenian lady of marvelous beauty
2:29:32
Speaker 1: and very noble parentage, whose name was Sophronia, and who
2:29:35
Speaker 1: was maybe fifteen years old, the term of the future
2:29:39
Speaker 1: nuptials drawing nigh, Jysippus one day besought Titus to go
2:29:43
Speaker 1: visit her with him, for that he had not yet
2:29:45
Speaker 1: seen her. Accordingly, they being come into her house, and
2:29:49
Speaker 1: she seated between the twain, Titus proceeded to consider her
2:29:52
Speaker 1: with the utmost attention, as if to judge of the
2:29:54
Speaker 1: beauty of his friend's bride, and every part of her
2:29:57
Speaker 1: pleasing him beyond measure. What while he inwardly could amended
2:30:00
Speaker 1: her charms to the utmost, he fell without showing any
2:30:03
Speaker 1: sign thereof, as passionately enamored of her as ever yet
2:30:08
Speaker 1: man of woman. After they had been with her a while,
2:30:11
Speaker 1: they took their leave and returned home, where Titus, betaking
2:30:15
Speaker 1: himself alone into his chamber, fell a thinking of the
2:30:17
Speaker 1: charming damsel, and grew the more enkindled, the more he
2:30:20
Speaker 1: enlarged upon her in thought, which perceiving he fell to
2:30:24
Speaker 1: saying in himself, after many ardent size, alack the wretchedness
2:30:29
Speaker 1: of thy life, Titus, wherein on what settest thou thy
2:30:33
Speaker 1: mind and thy love and thy hope. Knowest thou not
2:30:36
Speaker 1: that it behooveth Thee as well for the kindness received
2:30:39
Speaker 1: from Creams and his family, as for the entire friendship
2:30:42
Speaker 1: that is between THEE and Jysippus, whose bride she is
2:30:45
Speaker 1: to have yonder damsel in such respect as a sister,
2:30:48
Speaker 1: whom then lovest thou. Whither lettest thou thyself be carried
2:30:53
Speaker 1: away by delusive love, whither by fallacious hope opened the
2:30:57
Speaker 1: eyes of thine understanding and recollect thy life. Wretch that
2:31:01
Speaker 1: thou art give place to reason, Curb thy carnal appetite,
2:31:04
Speaker 1: temper thine, unhallow desires, and direct thy thoughts unto otherwat
2:31:09
Speaker 1: gainstand thy lust in this its beginning, and conquer thyself
2:31:12
Speaker 1: whilst it is yet time. This thou wouldst have is unseemly, Nay,
2:31:17
Speaker 1: it is dishonorable. This thou art minded to ensue it,
2:31:20
Speaker 1: behoveth Thee, even wert thou assured, which thou art not
2:31:24
Speaker 1: of obtaining it to flee from, And thou have regard
2:31:28
Speaker 1: unto that which true friendship requireth and that which thou oughtest,
2:31:32
Speaker 1: What then wilt thou do Titus, thou wilt leave this
2:31:37
Speaker 1: unseemly love, an thou wouldst do that which behoveth. Then,
2:31:41
Speaker 1: remembering him of Sophronia, and going over to the contrary,
2:31:45
Speaker 1: he denounced all that he had said, saying, the laws
2:31:48
Speaker 1: of love are of greater puissance than any others. They
2:31:51
Speaker 1: and null even the divine laws, let alone those of friendship.
2:31:54
Speaker 1: How often aforetime hath father loved daughter, brother, sister, stepmother,
2:31:58
Speaker 1: step son. Things more monstrous than for one friend to
2:32:02
Speaker 1: love the other's wife, the which hath already a thousand
2:32:05
Speaker 1: times befallen. Moreover, I am young, and youth is altogether
2:32:09
Speaker 1: subject to the laws of love. Wherefore that which pleaseth
2:32:13
Speaker 1: him needs must it please me? Things honorabile pertain unto
2:32:17
Speaker 1: maturer folk. I can will not save that which love willeth.
2:32:21
Speaker 1: The beauty of yonder damsel deserveth to be loved of all.
2:32:24
Speaker 1: And if I love her, who am young, who can
2:32:27
Speaker 1: justly blame me? Therefore I love her not because she
2:32:30
Speaker 1: is Jysippus's Nay, I love her for that, I should
2:32:33
Speaker 1: love her whosoever she was in this fortune Sinnath that
2:32:37
Speaker 1: hath allotted her to Jysippus my friend, rather than to another.
2:32:41
Speaker 1: And if she must be loved as she must and
2:32:44
Speaker 1: deservedly for her beauty Jusippus, and he came to know
2:32:47
Speaker 1: it should be better pleased that I should love her
2:32:50
Speaker 1: ay than another. Then from that reasoning he reverted again
2:32:54
Speaker 1: to the contrary, making mock of himself, and wasted not
2:32:57
Speaker 1: only that day and the ensuing night in passing from
2:33:00
Speaker 1: this to that and back again, but many others, insomuch
2:33:03
Speaker 1: that losing appetite and sleep. Therefore, he was constrained for
2:33:07
Speaker 1: weakness to take to his bed. Jysippus, having beheld him
2:33:11
Speaker 1: several days full of melancholy thought, and seeing him presently sick,
2:33:15
Speaker 1: was sore concerned, and with every art in all solicitude,
2:33:17
Speaker 1: studied to comfort him, never leaving him, and questioning him
2:33:20
Speaker 1: often and instantly of the cause of his melancholy and
2:33:23
Speaker 1: his sickness. Titus, after having once and again given him
2:33:27
Speaker 1: idle tales which Jysippus knew to be such, by weight
2:33:31
Speaker 1: of answer, finding himself e in constrained thereunto with tears
2:33:34
Speaker 1: and sighs, replied to him. On this wise, Jysippus had
2:33:38
Speaker 1: it pleased the gods death were far more agree to
2:33:41
Speaker 1: me than to live longer, considering that fortune hath brought
2:33:44
Speaker 1: me to a pass, whereas it behooved me make proof
2:33:47
Speaker 1: of my virtue, and that I have to my exceeding shame,
2:33:50
Speaker 1: found this latter overcome. But Cerds, I look thereof to
2:33:53
Speaker 1: have ere long the reward that befitteth me to wit death,
2:33:56
Speaker 1: And this will be more pleasing to me than to
2:33:58
Speaker 1: live in remembrance of my babaseness, which latter, for that
2:34:02
Speaker 1: I cannot nor should hide aught from THEE I will not,
2:34:05
Speaker 1: without sore blushing, discover to thee. Then, beginning from the beginning,
2:34:10
Speaker 1: he discovered to him the cause of his melancholy and
2:34:13
Speaker 1: the conflict of his thoughts, and ultimately gave him to
2:34:15
Speaker 1: know which had gotten the victory, and confessed himself perishing
2:34:18
Speaker 1: for love of Sophronia, declaring that knowing how much this
2:34:23
Speaker 1: misbeseemed him, he had for penance, thereof resolved himself to die,
2:34:27
Speaker 1: whereof he trusted speedily to make an end. Jysippus, hearing
2:34:31
Speaker 1: this and seeing his tears, abode a while irresolute, as
2:34:35
Speaker 1: one who, though more moderately was himself taken with the
2:34:38
Speaker 1: charms of the fair damsel. But speedily bethought himself that
2:34:41
Speaker 1: his friend's life should be dearer to him than Sophronia. Accordingly,
2:34:46
Speaker 1: solicited to tears by those of his friend, he answered him, weeping, Titus,
2:34:51
Speaker 1: wert thou not in need, as thou art of comfort,
2:34:53
Speaker 1: I should complain of thee to thyself, as of one
2:34:55
Speaker 1: who hath transgressed against our friendship, in having so long
2:34:58
Speaker 1: kept thy most grievously passion hidden from me, since albeit
2:35:02
Speaker 1: it appeared not to the honorable. Nevertheless, dishonorable things should
2:35:07
Speaker 1: not more than honorable be hidden from a friend. For
2:35:10
Speaker 1: that a friend like as he rejoiceth with his friend
2:35:12
Speaker 1: in honorable things, even so he studieth to do away
2:35:15
Speaker 1: the dishonorable from his friend's mind. But for the present
2:35:18
Speaker 1: I will refrain therefrom and come to that which I
2:35:20
Speaker 1: perceive to be of greater urgency that thou lovest Sophronia,
2:35:24
Speaker 1: who is betrothed to me, I marvel, not nay, I
2:35:28
Speaker 1: should marvel. Indeed, if it were not so, knowing her
2:35:31
Speaker 1: beauty and the nobility of thy mind, so much the
2:35:34
Speaker 1: more susceptible of passion, as the thing that pleaseth hath.
2:35:37
Speaker 1: The more excellence, and the more reason thou hast to
2:35:40
Speaker 1: love Sophronia so much, the more unjustly dost thou complain
2:35:44
Speaker 1: of fortune, Albeit thou expressest this not in so many words,
2:35:48
Speaker 1: in that it hath awarded her to me, it seeming
2:35:50
Speaker 1: to THEE that thy love for her had been honorable?
2:35:53
Speaker 1: Was she other than mine? But tell me if thou
2:35:55
Speaker 1: be as well advised as thou usest to be, to
2:35:59
Speaker 1: whom could fortune have awarded her? Whereof thou shouldst have
2:36:02
Speaker 1: more cause to render it thanks than of having awarded
2:36:05
Speaker 1: her to me whoso else had had her, how honorable
2:36:08
Speaker 1: soever thy love had been, had Liefer loved her for
2:36:11
Speaker 1: himself four hundred and sixty two than for THEE four
2:36:14
Speaker 1: hundred sixty three, a thing which thou shouldst not fear
2:36:18
Speaker 1: four hundred and sixty four from me? And thou hold
2:36:21
Speaker 1: me a friend such as I am to THEE. For that,
2:36:23
Speaker 1: I mind me not, since we have been friends, to
2:36:25
Speaker 1: have ever had aught that was not as much thine
2:36:28
Speaker 1: as mine. Now, with a matter so far advanced that
2:36:31
Speaker 1: it might not be otherwise, I would do with her
2:36:34
Speaker 1: as I have done with my other possessions, wink with
2:36:36
Speaker 1: a frown four hundred and sixty five. But it is
2:36:38
Speaker 1: yet at such a point that I can make her
2:36:40
Speaker 1: thine alone, and I will do so. For that I
2:36:43
Speaker 1: know not why my friendship should be dear to thee
2:36:45
Speaker 1: if in respect of a thing that may honorably be done,
2:36:49
Speaker 1: I knew not of a desire of mine to make
2:36:51
Speaker 1: thine true. It is that Sophronia is my promised bride,
2:36:55
Speaker 1: and that I loved her much and looked with great
2:36:57
Speaker 1: joyance for my nuptials with her. But since thou, being
2:37:00
Speaker 1: far more understanding than I, with more ardor desirost so
2:37:03
Speaker 1: dear a thing as she is, live assured that she
2:37:06
Speaker 1: shall enter my chamber not as my wife, but as thine.
2:37:11
Speaker 1: Wherefore leave thought, taking put away melancholy, call back thy
2:37:15
Speaker 1: lost health and comfort and algress, and from this time
2:37:18
Speaker 1: forth expect with blitheness the reward of thy love far
2:37:21
Speaker 1: worthier than was mine. When Titus heard Jysippus speak, thus
2:37:25
Speaker 1: the more the flattering hopes given him of the latter
2:37:27
Speaker 1: afforded him pleasure, so much the more did just reason
2:37:31
Speaker 1: inform him with shame, showing him that the greater was
2:37:34
Speaker 1: Jysippus his liberality, the more unworthy it appeared of himself
2:37:37
Speaker 1: to use it. Wherefore, without giving over weeping, he with difficulty,
2:37:42
Speaker 1: replied to him, Thus, Jysippus, thy generous and true friendship,
2:37:46
Speaker 1: very plainly showeth me that which it pertaineth unto mine
2:37:49
Speaker 1: to do. God forfend at her, whom he hath bestowed
2:37:53
Speaker 1: upon THEE, as upon the worthier I should receive from
2:37:55
Speaker 1: THEE from mine, had he judged it fitting that she
2:37:58
Speaker 1: should be mine, nor Thy, no nor others can believe
2:38:01
Speaker 1: that he would ever have bestowed her on THEE. Use therefore,
2:38:05
Speaker 1: joyfully thine election and discreet counsel and his gifts, and
2:38:09
Speaker 1: leave me to languish in the tears which, as to
2:38:11
Speaker 1: one undeserving of such a treasure, he hath prepared unto me,
2:38:15
Speaker 1: and which I will either overcome, and that will be
2:38:17
Speaker 1: dear to THEE, or they will overcome me and I
2:38:19
Speaker 1: shall be out of pain. Titus rejoin Dysippus, and our
2:38:24
Speaker 1: friendship might accord me such license that I should enforce
2:38:26
Speaker 1: THEE to ensue a desire of mine, And if it
2:38:28
Speaker 1: may avail to induce THEE to do so. It is
2:38:31
Speaker 1: in this case that I mean to use it to
2:38:33
Speaker 1: the utmost, And if thou yield not to my prayers
2:38:35
Speaker 1: with a good grace, I will, with such violence as
2:38:39
Speaker 1: it behooveth us use for the weal of our friends,
2:38:42
Speaker 1: procure that Sophronia shall be thine. I know how great
2:38:46
Speaker 1: is the might of love, and that not once, but
2:38:48
Speaker 1: many a time it hath brought lovers to a miserable death. Nay,
2:38:52
Speaker 1: unto this, I see THEE so near that thou canst
2:38:55
Speaker 1: neither turn back nor avail to master thy tears. But
2:38:58
Speaker 1: preceding thus wouldst pine and die, whereupon I, without any doubt,
2:39:04
Speaker 1: should speedily follow after. If then I love THEE not
2:39:08
Speaker 1: for other what thy life is dear to me, so
2:39:11
Speaker 1: I myself may live. Sophronia therefore shall be thine. For
2:39:16
Speaker 1: that thou couldst not lightly find another woman who would
2:39:18
Speaker 1: so please THEE. And as I shall easily turn my
2:39:21
Speaker 1: love unto another, I shall thus have contented both thyself
2:39:24
Speaker 1: and me. I should not, peradventure, be so free to
2:39:28
Speaker 1: do this, were wives as scarce and as uneath to
2:39:31
Speaker 1: find as friends. However, as I can very easily find
2:39:34
Speaker 1: me another wife, but not another friend, I had lief her,
2:39:38
Speaker 1: I will not say lose her, for that I shall
2:39:40
Speaker 1: not lose her giving her to THEE, but shall transfer
2:39:43
Speaker 1: her to another and a better self. But transfer her
2:39:46
Speaker 1: than lose THEE. Wherefore, if my prayers avail aught with THEE,
2:39:51
Speaker 1: I beseech THEE put away from THEE this affliction, in
2:39:53
Speaker 1: comforting at once thyself and me address THEE with good
2:39:56
Speaker 1: hope to take that joyance which thy fervent love desireth
2:39:59
Speaker 1: of the thing love it. Although Titus was a shamed
2:40:02
Speaker 1: to consent to this, namely that Sophronia should become his wife,
2:40:06
Speaker 1: and on this account held out yet awhile nevertheless love
2:40:10
Speaker 1: on the one hand, drawing him, and Jysippus his exhortations
2:40:13
Speaker 1: on the other, Urging him, he said, look, you, Jysippus,
2:40:16
Speaker 1: I know not which I can say I do most
2:40:19
Speaker 1: my pleasure or thine. In doing that whereof thou prayest
2:40:22
Speaker 1: me in which thou tellest me is so pleasing to THEE.
2:40:25
Speaker 1: And since thy generosity is such that it overcometh my
2:40:28
Speaker 1: just shame, I will e'endo it. But of this thou
2:40:31
Speaker 1: mayst be assured that I do it as one who
2:40:33
Speaker 1: knoweth himself to receive of THEE not only the beloved lady,
2:40:36
Speaker 1: but with her his life the gods grant an it
2:40:40
Speaker 1: be possible that I may yet be able to show
2:40:42
Speaker 1: THEE for thine honor and thy weal. How grateful to
2:40:45
Speaker 1: me is that which thou more pitiful for me than
2:40:47
Speaker 1: I for myself dowest for me? These things said Titus.
2:40:52
Speaker 1: Quoth Jysippus in this matter, and we would have it
2:40:55
Speaker 1: take effect. Meseemeth, this course is to be held as
2:40:59
Speaker 1: thou knowest. Sophronia, after long treaty between my kinsfolk and hers,
2:41:04
Speaker 1: is become my affianced bride. Wherefore should I now go
2:41:07
Speaker 1: about to say that I will not have her to wife?
2:41:09
Speaker 1: A sore scandal would ensue thereof, and I should anger
2:41:12
Speaker 1: both her kinsfolk and mine own. Of this indeed, I
2:41:16
Speaker 1: should wreck nothing. And I saw that she was thereby
2:41:19
Speaker 1: to become thine. But I misdoubt me that, and I
2:41:22
Speaker 1: renounce her at this point her kinsfolk will straightway give
2:41:25
Speaker 1: her to another, who belike will not be thyself. And
2:41:27
Speaker 1: so wilt thou have lost that which I shall not
2:41:30
Speaker 1: have gained. Wherefore, messimeth, well, an thou be content that
2:41:34
Speaker 1: I follow on with that which I have begun, and
2:41:36
Speaker 1: bring her home as mine, and hold the nuptials, And
2:41:39
Speaker 1: thou mayst after, as we shall know how to contrive
2:41:42
Speaker 1: privily lie with her as with thy wife. Then in
2:41:46
Speaker 1: due place and season we will make manifest the fact, which,
2:41:49
Speaker 1: if it please them not, will still be done, and
2:41:52
Speaker 1: they must perforce be content, being unable to go back
2:41:55
Speaker 1: upon it. The device pleased Titus. Wherefore Jysippus received the
2:41:59
Speaker 1: lady into his house as his. Titus, being by this
2:42:03
Speaker 1: recovered and in good case, and after holding high festival,
2:42:06
Speaker 1: the night being come, the ladies left the new married
2:42:09
Speaker 1: wife in her husband's bed and went their ways. Now
2:42:12
Speaker 1: Titus his chamber had joined that of Jusippus, and one
2:42:15
Speaker 1: might go from the one room into the other. Wherefore Jusippus,
2:42:18
Speaker 1: being in his chamber, and having put out all the lights,
2:42:21
Speaker 1: betook himself stealthily to his friend and bade him go
2:42:24
Speaker 1: couch with his mistress. Titus, seeing this, was overcome with shame,
2:42:29
Speaker 1: and would fain have repented and refused to go. But Jisippus,
2:42:32
Speaker 1: who with his whole heart no less than in words,
2:42:35
Speaker 1: was minded to do his friend's pleasure, sent him thither
2:42:38
Speaker 1: after long contention, when as he came into the bed,
2:42:42
Speaker 1: he took the damsel in his arms, and asked her softly,
2:42:45
Speaker 1: as if in sport, if she chose to be his wife. She,
2:42:49
Speaker 1: thinking him to be Jysippus, answered yes, whereupon he said
2:42:53
Speaker 1: a goodly and rich ring on her finger, saying, and
2:42:56
Speaker 1: I choose to be thy husband. Then the mary which consummated,
2:43:01
Speaker 1: he took long and amorous pleasance of her, without her
2:43:04
Speaker 1: or others anywise, perceiving that other than Jysippus lay with her.
2:43:08
Speaker 1: The marriage of Sophronia and Titus. Being at this pass, Publius,
2:43:12
Speaker 1: his father, departed this life. Wherefore it was written him
2:43:15
Speaker 1: that he should without delay return to Rome to look
2:43:17
Speaker 1: to his affairs. And he accordingly took counsel with Jysippus
2:43:20
Speaker 1: to betake himself thither and carry Sophronia with him, which
2:43:24
Speaker 1: might not nor should aptly be done without discovering to
2:43:27
Speaker 1: her how the case stood. Accordingly, one day, calling her
2:43:31
Speaker 1: into the chamber, they thoroughly discovered to her the fact,
2:43:34
Speaker 1: and thereof Titus certified her by many particulars of that
2:43:37
Speaker 1: which had passed between them. Twain Sophronia, after eyeing the
2:43:42
Speaker 1: one and the other somewhat despitefully fell a weeping, bitterly
2:43:45
Speaker 1: complaining of Jysippus his deceit. Then, rather than make any
2:43:49
Speaker 1: words of this in his house, she repaired to that
2:43:51
Speaker 1: of her father, and there acquainted him and her mother
2:43:53
Speaker 1: with the cheek that had been put upon her and
2:43:55
Speaker 1: them by Jysippus, a vouching herself to be the wife
2:43:59
Speaker 1: of Titus and not of Juysippus. As they believed, this
2:44:03
Speaker 1: was exceeding grievous to Sophronia's father, who made long and
2:44:07
Speaker 1: sore complaint thereof, to her kinsfolk and those of Jysippus.
2:44:10
Speaker 1: And much and great was the talk and the clamor
2:44:12
Speaker 1: by reason thereof Jysippus was held in despite both by
2:44:16
Speaker 1: his own kindred in those of Sophronia, and every one
2:44:19
Speaker 1: declared him worthy not only of blame, but of severe chastisement,
2:44:23
Speaker 1: whilst he, on the contrary, a vouched himself to have
2:44:26
Speaker 1: done an honorable thing, in one for which thanks should
2:44:28
Speaker 1: be rendered him by sophronius kinsfolk, having married her to
2:44:32
Speaker 1: a better than himself. Titus, on his part, heard and
2:44:36
Speaker 1: suffered everything with no little annoy and knowing it to
2:44:39
Speaker 1: be the usance of the Greeks to press on with
2:44:41
Speaker 1: clamors and menaces till such times as they found who
2:44:44
Speaker 1: should answer them, and then to become not only humble
2:44:47
Speaker 1: but abject. He bethought himself that their clamor was no
2:44:51
Speaker 1: longer to be brooked without reply. In having a Roman
2:44:53
Speaker 1: spirit and an Athenian wit, he adroitly contrived to assemble Juysippus,
2:44:57
Speaker 1: his kinsfolk, and those of Sophronia in a temple, wherein
2:45:00
Speaker 1: entering accompanied by Jysippus alone, he thus bespoke the expectant folk.
2:45:06
Speaker 1: It is the belief of many philosophers that the actions
2:45:08
Speaker 1: of mortals are determined and forordain of the immortal gods.
2:45:11
Speaker 1: Wherefore some will have it that all that is or
2:45:14
Speaker 1: shall ever be done is of necessity, albeit there be
2:45:16
Speaker 1: others who attribute this necessity to that only which is
2:45:19
Speaker 1: already done. If these opinions be considered with any diligence,
2:45:24
Speaker 1: it will very manifestly be seen that to blame a
2:45:26
Speaker 1: thing which cannot be undone is to do no other
2:45:28
Speaker 1: what than to seek to show oneself wiser than the gods,
2:45:31
Speaker 1: who we must e in believe, dispose of and govern
2:45:34
Speaker 1: us and our affairs, with unfailing wisdom and without any error,
2:45:38
Speaker 1: wherefore you may very easily see what fond and brutish
2:45:41
Speaker 1: overweening it is to presume to find fault with their operations,
2:45:45
Speaker 1: and eke how many and what chains they merit? Who
2:45:47
Speaker 1: suffer themselves be so far carried away by hardihood as
2:45:50
Speaker 1: to do this, of whom, to my thinking, you are all,
2:45:54
Speaker 1: if that be true, which I understand you have said
2:45:56
Speaker 1: and still say, for that Sophronia is become my wife,
2:46:00
Speaker 1: whereas you had given her to Jusippus, never considering that
2:46:03
Speaker 1: it was foreordained from all eternity that she should become
2:46:05
Speaker 1: not his but mine, as by the issue is known
2:46:08
Speaker 1: at this present. But for that to speak of the secret,
2:46:12
Speaker 1: foreordinance and intention of the gods appeareth unto many a
2:46:15
Speaker 1: hard thing and a grievous to apprehend. I am willing
2:46:18
Speaker 1: to suppose that they concern not themselves with aught of
2:46:20
Speaker 1: our affairs, and to condescend to the councils four hundred
2:46:23
Speaker 1: and sixty six of mankind in speaking whereof it will
2:46:27
Speaker 1: behold me to do two things, both very contrary to
2:46:31
Speaker 1: my uisances. The one some deal to commend myself and
2:46:35
Speaker 1: the other in some measure to blame or disparage others.
2:46:38
Speaker 1: But for that I purpose, neither in the one nor
2:46:40
Speaker 1: in the other, to depart from the truth. And that
2:46:42
Speaker 1: the present matter requireth it, I will e'endo it. Your complainings,
2:46:47
Speaker 1: dictated more by rage than by reason, upbraid, revile, and
2:46:51
Speaker 1: condemn Jysippus with continual murmurs, or rather clamors, for that
2:46:55
Speaker 1: of his counsel he hath given me to wife for
2:46:57
Speaker 1: whom you, of yours four hundred sixty seven had given him.
2:47:01
Speaker 1: Whereas I hold that he is supremely to be commended therefore,
2:47:04
Speaker 1: and that for two reasons, the one for that he
2:47:08
Speaker 1: hath done that which a friend should do, and the
2:47:10
Speaker 1: other for that he hath in this wrought more discreetly
2:47:13
Speaker 1: than did you, that which the sacred laws of friendship
2:47:16
Speaker 1: well that one friend should do for the other. It
2:47:18
Speaker 1: is not my intention at this present to expound, being
2:47:21
Speaker 1: content to have recalled to you this much, only thereof
2:47:24
Speaker 1: to wit that the bonds of friendship are far more
2:47:26
Speaker 1: stringent than those of blood or of kindred. Seeing that
2:47:30
Speaker 1: the friends we have are such as we choose for
2:47:32
Speaker 1: ourselves and our kinsfolks such as fortune giveth us. Wherefore,
2:47:36
Speaker 1: if Chysippus loved my life more than your good will, I,
2:47:39
Speaker 1: being his friend, as I hold myself, none should marvel thereat.
2:47:44
Speaker 1: But to come to the second reason, whereain in it
2:47:46
Speaker 1: more instantly behoveth to show you that he hath been
2:47:48
Speaker 1: wiser than yourselves. Since mess Methieu recked nothing of the
2:47:52
Speaker 1: foreordinance of the gods, and know yet less of the
2:47:54
Speaker 1: effects of friendship, I say then that you, of your judgment,
2:47:58
Speaker 1: of your counsel, and of your deliberate gave Sophronia to Jusippus,
2:48:03
Speaker 1: a young man and a philosopher. Jusippus of his gave
2:48:06
Speaker 1: her to a young man and a philosopher. Your council
2:48:09
Speaker 1: gave her to an Athenian, and that of Jysippus to
2:48:11
Speaker 1: a Roman. Your council gave her to a youth of
2:48:13
Speaker 1: noble birth, and his to one yet nobler Yours to
2:48:16
Speaker 1: a rich youth, his to a very rich Yours to
2:48:19
Speaker 1: a youth who not only loved her not but scarce
2:48:21
Speaker 1: knew her. His to one who loved her over his
2:48:24
Speaker 1: every happiness and more than his very life. And to
2:48:28
Speaker 1: show you that this I say is true, and that
2:48:30
Speaker 1: Jusippus's action is more commendable than yours. Let us consider
2:48:34
Speaker 1: it part by part, that I, like Jisippus, am a
2:48:38
Speaker 1: young man and a philosopher. My favor and my studies
2:48:41
Speaker 1: may declare without more discourse thereof one same age as
2:48:46
Speaker 1: his and mine, And still with equal step have we
2:48:48
Speaker 1: preceded studying true, he is an Athenian and I am
2:48:52
Speaker 1: a Roman. If it be disputed of the glory of
2:48:55
Speaker 1: our native cities, I say that I am a citizen
2:48:58
Speaker 1: of a free city, and he of a tribute. I
2:49:01
Speaker 1: am of a city mistress of the whole world, and
2:49:03
Speaker 1: he of a city obedient unto mine. I am of
2:49:05
Speaker 1: a city most illustrious in arms, in empery, and in letters,
2:49:09
Speaker 1: whereas he can only commend his own for letters. Moreover,
2:49:13
Speaker 1: albeit you see me here a lowly, wise enough a student,
2:49:16
Speaker 1: I am not born of the dregs of the Roman populace.
2:49:19
Speaker 1: My houses and the public places of Rome are full
2:49:22
Speaker 1: of antique images of my ancestors, and the Roman annals
2:49:25
Speaker 1: will be found full of many a triumph led by
2:49:27
Speaker 1: the quincyaye up to the Roman capital. Nor is the
2:49:30
Speaker 1: glory of our name fallen for age into decay, nay
2:49:34
Speaker 1: it presently flourishing more splendidly than ever. I speak not
2:49:38
Speaker 1: for shamefastness of my riches, bearing in mind that honorable
2:49:42
Speaker 1: poverty hath ever been the ancient and most ample patrimony
2:49:45
Speaker 1: of the noble citizens of Rome. But if this be
2:49:49
Speaker 1: condemned of the opinion of the vulgar and treasures commended,
2:49:52
Speaker 1: I am abundantly provided with these latter, not as one covetous,
2:49:55
Speaker 1: but as beloved of fortune four hundred and sixty eight.
2:50:00
Speaker 1: I know very well that it was, and should have been,
2:50:02
Speaker 1: and should be dear unto you to have Dysippus here
2:50:04
Speaker 1: in Athens to kinsmen. But I ought not for any
2:50:06
Speaker 1: reason to be less dear to you at Rome, considering
2:50:09
Speaker 1: that in me you would have their an excellent host
2:50:11
Speaker 1: and an useful and diligent and powerful patron, no less
2:50:15
Speaker 1: in public occasions than in matters of private need. Who, then,
2:50:19
Speaker 1: letting be wilfulness and considering with reason, will commend your
2:50:22
Speaker 1: counsels above those of my Jusippus cerdes none. Sophronia then,
2:50:29
Speaker 1: is well and duly married to Titus Quintius Fulvus a noble,
2:50:33
Speaker 1: rich and long descended citizen of Rome, and a friend
2:50:35
Speaker 1: of Jysippus. Wherefore whoso complaineth or mocketh moan of this,
2:50:39
Speaker 1: doth not that which he ought, neither knoweth that which
2:50:41
Speaker 1: he doth. Some perchance will say that they complain not
2:50:45
Speaker 1: of Sophronia being the wife of Titus, but of the
2:50:47
Speaker 1: manner wherein she became his wife, to wit in secret
2:50:51
Speaker 1: and by stealth, without friend or kinsman knowing aught thereof.
2:50:54
Speaker 1: But this is no marvel, nor thing that beda death.
2:50:57
Speaker 1: Newly I willingly leave be those those who have aforetime
2:51:01
Speaker 1: taken husbands against their parents will, and those who have
2:51:03
Speaker 1: fled with their lovers and have been mistresses before they
2:51:05
Speaker 1: were wives, and those who have discovered themselves to be
2:51:08
Speaker 1: married rather by pregnancy or child bearing than with the tongue.
2:51:11
Speaker 1: Yet hath necessity commended it to their kinsfolk, nothing of
2:51:15
Speaker 1: which hath happened in sophronious case. Nay, she hath orderly, discreetly,
2:51:20
Speaker 1: and honorably been given by Jysippus to Titus. Others will
2:51:24
Speaker 1: say that he gave her in marriage to whom it
2:51:26
Speaker 1: appertained not to do so. But these be all foolish
2:51:29
Speaker 1: and womanish complaints and proceed from lack of advisement. This
2:51:33
Speaker 1: is not the first time that fortune hath made use
2:51:35
Speaker 1: of various means and strange instruments to bring matters to
2:51:38
Speaker 1: foreordained issues. What have I to care if it be
2:51:42
Speaker 1: a chord wainer rather than a philosopher, that Hath, according
2:51:45
Speaker 1: to his judgment, despatched an affair of mine, and whether
2:51:48
Speaker 1: in secret or openly, provided the issue be good. If
2:51:52
Speaker 1: the cord wainer be indiscreet, all I have to do
2:51:54
Speaker 1: is to look well that he have no more to
2:51:56
Speaker 1: do with my affairs, and thank him for that which
2:51:58
Speaker 1: is done. If Chysippus Hath married Sophronia, well it is
2:52:02
Speaker 1: a superfluous folly to go complaining of the manner and
2:52:05
Speaker 1: of him. If you have no confidence in his judgment, Look,
2:52:09
Speaker 1: you have no more of your daughters to marry, and
2:52:11
Speaker 1: thank him for this one. Nevertheless, I would have you
2:52:14
Speaker 1: to know that I sought not, either by art or
2:52:17
Speaker 1: by fraud, to impose any stain upon the honor and
2:52:20
Speaker 1: illustriousness of your blood in the person of Sophronia, and
2:52:23
Speaker 1: that albeit I took her secretly to wife, I came
2:52:26
Speaker 1: not as a ravisher to rob her of her maidenhead,
2:52:28
Speaker 1: nor sought after the manner of an enemy, whilst shunning
2:52:32
Speaker 1: your alliance, to have her otherwise than honorably, but being
2:52:36
Speaker 1: ardently enkindled by her lovesome beauty and by her worth.
2:52:38
Speaker 1: In knowing that had I sought her with that ordinance
2:52:41
Speaker 1: which you will maybe say I should have used, I
2:52:43
Speaker 1: should not, she, being much beloved of you, have had
2:52:46
Speaker 1: her for fear lest I should carry her off to Rome.
2:52:50
Speaker 1: I used the occult means that may now be discovered
2:52:52
Speaker 1: to you, and cause Jusippus in my person consent unto
2:52:55
Speaker 1: that which he himself was not disposed to do. Moreover, ardently,
2:53:00
Speaker 1: as I loved her, I sought her embraces, not as
2:53:02
Speaker 1: a lover, but as a husband. Nor as she herself
2:53:06
Speaker 1: can truly testify, did I draw near to her till
2:53:09
Speaker 1: I had, first, both with the due words and with
2:53:11
Speaker 1: the ring, espoused her, asking her if she would have
2:53:13
Speaker 1: me for husband, to which she answered, I, if it
2:53:16
Speaker 1: appeared to her that she hath been deceived, It is
2:53:19
Speaker 1: not I who am to blame therefore, but she who
2:53:22
Speaker 1: asked me, not who I was. This, then, is the
2:53:26
Speaker 1: great misdeed, the grievous crime the sword default committed by
2:53:30
Speaker 1: Jysippus as a friend and by myself as a lover,
2:53:32
Speaker 1: to wit that Sophronia hath secretly become the wife of
2:53:35
Speaker 1: Titus Quintius. And this it is for which you to
2:53:38
Speaker 1: fame and menace and plot against him. What more could
2:53:41
Speaker 1: you do had he bestowed her upon a churl, a lazzal,
2:53:45
Speaker 1: or a slave, What chains, what prison, what gibbets had
2:53:49
Speaker 1: sufficed thereunto? But let that be for the present. The
2:53:53
Speaker 1: time is come which I looked not for yet to wit.
2:53:56
Speaker 1: My father is dead, and it behooveth me returned to Rome. Wherefore,
2:53:59
Speaker 1: meaning to carry Sophronia with me, I have discovered to
2:54:03
Speaker 1: you that which I should otherwise belike, have yet kept
2:54:06
Speaker 1: hidden from you, and with which and you, be wise,
2:54:08
Speaker 1: you will cheerfully put up for that. Had I wished
2:54:11
Speaker 1: to cheat or outrage you, I might have left her
2:54:14
Speaker 1: to you scorn and dishonored. But God forfend that such
2:54:17
Speaker 1: a baseness should ever avail to harbor in a Roman breast.
2:54:21
Speaker 1: She then, namely Sophronia, by the consent of the gods
2:54:25
Speaker 1: and the operation of the laws of mankind no less
2:54:27
Speaker 1: than by the admirable contrivance of my Jysippus and mine
2:54:30
Speaker 1: own amorous astuteness is become mine. And this it seemeth
2:54:34
Speaker 1: that you, holding yourselves belike wiser than the gods, and
2:54:37
Speaker 1: then the rest of mankind brutishly condemned, showing your disapproval
2:54:42
Speaker 1: in two ways, both exceedingly noious to myself, first by
2:54:45
Speaker 1: detaining Sophronia, over whom you have no right, save in
2:54:49
Speaker 1: so far as it pleaseth me to allow it, and
2:54:51
Speaker 1: secondly by entreating Dysippus, to whom you are justly beholden
2:54:55
Speaker 1: as an enemy, how foolishly you do in both which
2:54:59
Speaker 1: things I purpose not at this present to make farther
2:55:01
Speaker 1: manifest to you, but will only counsel you as a friend,
2:55:05
Speaker 1: to lay by your despites, and altogether leaving your resentments
2:55:08
Speaker 1: and the rancors that you have conceived, to restore Sophronia
2:55:11
Speaker 1: to me, so I may joyfully depart your kinsmen and
2:55:14
Speaker 1: live your friend. For of this, whether that which is
2:55:17
Speaker 1: done please you or please you not, you may be
2:55:19
Speaker 1: assured that if you offer to do otherwise, I will
2:55:22
Speaker 1: take Jusippus from you. And if I win to Rome.
2:55:25
Speaker 1: I will without fail, however ill you may take it,
2:55:28
Speaker 1: have her again, who is justly mine, And ever after
2:55:30
Speaker 1: showing myself your enemy, will cause you know by experience
2:55:34
Speaker 1: that whereof the despite of Roman souls is capable. Titus,
2:55:38
Speaker 1: having thus spoken, rose to his feet with a countenance
2:55:42
Speaker 1: all disordered for anger, and taking Jusippus by the hand,
2:55:45
Speaker 1: went forth of the temple, shaking his head threateningly and
2:55:48
Speaker 1: showing that he wrecked little of as many as were there.
2:55:51
Speaker 1: The latter, in part, reconciled by his reasonings to the
2:55:54
Speaker 1: alliance and desirous of his friendship, and in part terrified
2:55:57
Speaker 1: by his last words of one accord to, determined that
2:56:00
Speaker 1: it was better to have him for a kinsman, since
2:56:02
Speaker 1: Jusippus had not willed it, than to have lost the
2:56:05
Speaker 1: latter to kinsman and gotten the former for an enemy. Accordingly,
2:56:09
Speaker 1: going in quest of Titus, they told him that they
2:56:12
Speaker 1: were willing that Sophronia should be his, and to have
2:56:14
Speaker 1: him for a dear kinsman, and Jysippus for a dear friend. Then,
2:56:18
Speaker 1: having mutually done each other such honors and courtesies as
2:56:20
Speaker 1: beseen between kinsmen and friends, they took their leaves, and
2:56:24
Speaker 1: sent Sophronia back to him. She, like a wise woman,
2:56:28
Speaker 1: making a virtue of necessity, readily transferred to Titus the
2:56:31
Speaker 1: affection she bore Jusippus, and repaired with him to Rome,
2:56:34
Speaker 1: where she was received with great honor. Meanwhile, Jysippus abode
2:56:39
Speaker 1: in Athens, held in little esteem of well nigh all
2:56:42
Speaker 1: and no great while, after, through certain intest and troubles,
2:56:46
Speaker 1: was with all those of his house, expelled from Athens
2:56:49
Speaker 1: in poverty and misery, and condemned to perpetual exile. Finding
2:56:54
Speaker 1: himself in this case, and being grown not only poor
2:56:57
Speaker 1: but beggarly, he betook himself as least till he might
2:57:01
Speaker 1: to Rome, to essay if Titus should remember him there,
2:57:05
Speaker 1: Learning that the latter was alive and high in favor
2:57:07
Speaker 1: with all the Romans, and inquiring for his dwelling place,
2:57:10
Speaker 1: he stationed himself before the door, and there abode till
2:57:13
Speaker 1: such time as Titus came to whom, by reason of
2:57:16
Speaker 1: the wretched plight wherein he was, he dared not say
2:57:19
Speaker 1: a word, but studied to cause himself be seen of him,
2:57:23
Speaker 1: so he might recognize him and let call him to himself.
2:57:25
Speaker 1: Wherefore Titus passed on without noting him, and Gysippus, conceiving
2:57:30
Speaker 1: that he had seen and shunned him, and remembering him
2:57:32
Speaker 1: of that which himself had done for him aforetime departed,
2:57:35
Speaker 1: despiteful and despairing. It being by this night, and he
2:57:39
Speaker 1: fasting and penniless, he wandered on, unknowing whither, and more
2:57:43
Speaker 1: desirous of death than of otherwatt and presently happened upon
2:57:46
Speaker 1: a very desert part of the city, where seeing a
2:57:48
Speaker 1: great cavern, he addressed himself to abide the night there,
2:57:51
Speaker 1: and presently for spent with long weeping, he fell asleep
2:57:55
Speaker 1: on the naked earth, and k ill in case to
2:57:58
Speaker 1: this cavern too, who had gaun ay thieving together that night,
2:58:02
Speaker 1: came towards morning with the booty they had gotten, and,
2:58:05
Speaker 1: falling out over the division, one who was the stronger,
2:58:08
Speaker 1: slew the other and went away. Jysippus had seen and
2:58:12
Speaker 1: heard this, and him seemed he had found a way
2:58:14
Speaker 1: to the death, so sore desired of him without slaying himself.
2:58:17
Speaker 1: Wherefore he abode without stirring till such time as the
2:58:21
Speaker 1: sergeants of the watch, who had by this gotten wind
2:58:23
Speaker 1: of the deed came thither, and, laying furious hands of him,
2:58:26
Speaker 1: carried him off. Prisoner. Jysippus, being examined, confessed that he
2:58:31
Speaker 1: had murdered the man, nor had since availed to depart
2:58:34
Speaker 1: the cavern, whereupon the praetor, who was called Marcus Varrow,
2:58:37
Speaker 1: commanded that he should be put to death upon the cross,
2:58:40
Speaker 1: as the usance then was. Now Titus was by chance
2:58:44
Speaker 1: come at that juncture to the pretorium, and, looking the wretched,
2:58:47
Speaker 1: condemned man in the face, and hearing why he had
2:58:49
Speaker 1: been doomed to die, suddenly knew him for Gysippus, whereupon,
2:58:53
Speaker 1: marveling at his sorry fortune and how he came to
2:58:55
Speaker 1: be in Rome, and desiring most ardently to succor him,
2:58:59
Speaker 1: but seeing no other means of saving him than to
2:59:01
Speaker 1: accuse himself and thus excuse him, he thrust forward in
2:59:04
Speaker 1: haste and cried out, saying, Marcus Varro, call back the
2:59:08
Speaker 1: poor man whom thou hast condemned, for that he is innocent.
2:59:12
Speaker 1: I have enough offended against the gods with one crime
2:59:15
Speaker 1: in slaying him, whom thine officer found this morning dead,
2:59:18
Speaker 1: without willing presently to wrong them with the death of
2:59:20
Speaker 1: another innocent Vera marveled, and it irked him that all
2:59:24
Speaker 1: the praetorium should have hurt him. But being unable for
2:59:28
Speaker 1: his own honor's sake to forbear from doing that which
2:59:30
Speaker 1: the laws commanded, he caused bring back Jysippus, and, in
2:59:34
Speaker 1: the presence of Titus, said to him, how camest thou
2:59:36
Speaker 1: to be so mad that, without suffering any torture, thou
2:59:41
Speaker 1: confessest to that which thou didst, not it being a
2:59:43
Speaker 1: capital matter, Thou declarest thyself to be he who slew
2:59:47
Speaker 1: the man yesternight. And now this man cometh and saith
2:59:50
Speaker 1: that it was not thou but he that slew him.
2:59:54
Speaker 1: Jysippus looked, and, seeing that it was Titus, perceived full
2:59:57
Speaker 1: well that he did this to save him, as grateful
2:59:59
Speaker 1: for the service aforetime received from him. Wherefore, weeping for pity,
3:00:03
Speaker 1: Vera quoth he, Indeed it was I slew him, and
3:00:06
Speaker 1: Titus his solicitude for my safety is now too late. Titus,
3:00:11
Speaker 1: on the other hand, said, praetor, do as thou sayest,
3:00:14
Speaker 1: this man is a stranger, and was found without arms
3:00:17
Speaker 1: beside the murdered man, And thou mayst see that his
3:00:19
Speaker 1: wretchedness giveth him occasion to wish to die. Wherefore do
3:00:22
Speaker 1: thou release him and punish me, who have deserved it.
3:00:26
Speaker 1: Vera marveled at the insistence of these two, and, beginning
3:00:29
Speaker 1: now to presume that neither of them might be guilty,
3:00:31
Speaker 1: was casting about for a means of acquitting them, when
3:00:34
Speaker 1: behold up came a youth called Publius Ambustis, a man
3:00:38
Speaker 1: of notorious ill life, and known to all the Romans
3:00:40
Speaker 1: for an errant rogue, who had actually done the murder,
3:00:44
Speaker 1: And knowing neither of the twain to be guilty of
3:00:45
Speaker 1: that whereof each accused himself, such was the pity that
3:00:48
Speaker 1: overcame his heart for the innocence of the two friends,
3:00:51
Speaker 1: that moved by supreme compassion, he came before Vera and said, Praetor,
3:00:57
Speaker 1: my fates impel me to solve the grievous contention of
3:00:59
Speaker 1: these twain. And I know not what God within me
3:01:02
Speaker 1: spurreth and importuneth me to discover to thee my sin.
3:01:05
Speaker 1: Know then that neither of these men is guilty of
3:01:08
Speaker 1: that whereof each accuseth himself. I am verily he who
3:01:12
Speaker 1: slew yonder man this morning towards daybreak, and I saw
3:01:15
Speaker 1: this poor wretchous sleep there, but while I was in
3:01:17
Speaker 1: act to divide the booty gootten with him whom I slew.
3:01:21
Speaker 1: There is no need for me to excuse Titus. His
3:01:23
Speaker 1: renown is everywhere manifest, and every one knoweth him to
3:01:26
Speaker 1: be no man of such a condition. Release him therefore,
3:01:31
Speaker 1: and take of me that forfeit which the laws impose
3:01:33
Speaker 1: on me. By this, Octavianus had notice of the matter,
3:01:37
Speaker 1: in causing all three be brought before him, desire to
3:01:40
Speaker 1: hear what cause had moved each of them to seek
3:01:42
Speaker 1: to be the condemned man. Accordingly, each related his own story,
3:01:47
Speaker 1: whereupon Octavianus released the two friends for that they were innocent,
3:01:51
Speaker 1: and pardon the other for the love of them. Thereupon
3:01:54
Speaker 1: Titus took his jusippus, and, first reproaching him sore for
3:01:57
Speaker 1: lukewarmness four hundred and sixty nine and diffidence, rejoiced in
3:02:01
Speaker 1: him with marvelous great joy, and carried him to his house,
3:02:04
Speaker 1: where Sophronia, with tears of compassion, received him as a brother, then,
3:02:09
Speaker 1: having a while, recruited him with rest and refreshment, and
3:02:12
Speaker 1: reclothed him and restored him to such a habit as
3:02:14
Speaker 1: sorted with his worth and quality. He first shared all
3:02:17
Speaker 1: his treasures and estates in common with him, and after
3:02:20
Speaker 1: gave him to wife, a young sister of his called Fulvia, saying, Jysippus,
3:02:25
Speaker 1: henceforth it resed death with thee, whether thou wilt abide
3:02:28
Speaker 1: here with me, or return with everything I have given
3:02:30
Speaker 1: THEE into a caiah. Jysippus, constrained on the one hand
3:02:35
Speaker 1: by his banishment from his native land, and on the
3:02:37
Speaker 1: other by the love which he justly bore to the
3:02:39
Speaker 1: cherished friendship of Titus, consented to become a Roman, and
3:02:42
Speaker 1: accordingly took up his abode in the city, where he
3:02:45
Speaker 1: with his Fulvia and Titus with his Sophronia, lived long
3:02:47
Speaker 1: and happily, still abiding in one house, and waxing more
3:02:52
Speaker 1: friends and more they might be every day. A most
3:02:56
Speaker 1: sacred thing, then his friendship, and worthy not only of
3:02:59
Speaker 1: a special but to be commended with perpetual praise, as
3:03:03
Speaker 1: the most discreet mother of magnanimity and honor, the sister
3:03:06
Speaker 1: of gratitude and charity, and the enemy of hatred and avarice,
3:03:09
Speaker 1: still without waiting to be entreated, ready virtuously to do
3:03:14
Speaker 1: unto others that which it would have done to itself. Nowadays,
3:03:18
Speaker 1: its divine effects are very rarely to be seen in
3:03:20
Speaker 1: any twain by the fault and to the shame of
3:03:22
Speaker 1: the wretched cupidity of mankind, which, regarding only its own
3:03:26
Speaker 1: prophet hath relegated it to perpetual exile beyond the extremest
3:03:31
Speaker 1: limits of the earth. What love, what riches, what kinship?
3:03:36
Speaker 1: What except friendship could have made Dysippus feel in his
3:03:39
Speaker 1: heart the ardor the tears and the size of Titus
3:03:42
Speaker 1: with such efficacy as to cause him yield up to
3:03:44
Speaker 1: his friend, his betrothed bride, fair and gentle and beloved
3:03:47
Speaker 1: of him? What laws, what menaces? What fears? Could have
3:03:52
Speaker 1: enforced the young arms of Dysippus to abstain in solitary
3:03:55
Speaker 1: places and in dark nay, in his very bed, from
3:03:58
Speaker 1: the embraces of the fair damsel she may have by
3:04:01
Speaker 1: times inviting him, had friendship not done it, What honors,
3:04:06
Speaker 1: what rewards, what advancements? What? Indeed, but friendship could have
3:04:10
Speaker 1: made Jysippus wreck, not of losing his own kinsfolk and
3:04:13
Speaker 1: those of Sophronia, nor of the unmanly clamors of the populace,
3:04:16
Speaker 1: nor of scoffs and insults, so that he might pleasure
3:04:19
Speaker 1: his friend. On the other hand, what but friendship could
3:04:23
Speaker 1: have prompted Titus, when as he might fairly have feigned
3:04:26
Speaker 1: not to see unhesitatingly to compass his own death, that
3:04:30
Speaker 1: he might deliver Gysippus from the cross to which he had,
3:04:32
Speaker 1: of his own motion, procured himself to be condemned. What
3:04:36
Speaker 1: else could have made Titus, without the least demur so
3:04:39
Speaker 1: liberal in sharing his most ample patrimony with Jysippus, whom
3:04:43
Speaker 1: fortune had bereft of his own. What else could have
3:04:46
Speaker 1: made him so forward to vouchsafe his sister to his friend,
3:04:49
Speaker 1: albeit he saw him very poor and reduced to the
3:04:52
Speaker 1: extreme of misery. Let men then covet a multitude of comrades,
3:04:57
Speaker 1: troops of brethren, and children galore, and ad by dint
3:05:00
Speaker 1: of moneys to the number of their servitors, considering not
3:05:03
Speaker 1: that every one of these, who, in whatsoever he may be,
3:05:07
Speaker 1: is more fearful of every least danger of his own,
3:05:09
Speaker 1: than careful to do away the great four hundred and
3:05:12
Speaker 1: seventy from father, or brother or master. Whereas we see
3:05:16
Speaker 1: a friend do altogether the contrary the ninth story day,
3:05:20
Speaker 1: the tenth Saladin, in the disguise of a merchant I
3:05:23
Speaker 1: s honorably entertained by Messer Torrello Distria, who, presently undertaking
3:05:27
Speaker 1: the third Crusade, appointeth his wife a term for her
3:05:31
Speaker 1: marrying again. He is taken by the Saracens and cometh,
3:05:36
Speaker 1: by his skill in training hawks, under the notice of
3:05:38
Speaker 1: the Suldan, who knoweth him again, in discovering himself to
3:05:41
Speaker 1: him entreateth him with the utmost honor. Then Torrello, falling
3:05:46
Speaker 1: sick for languishment, he is by magical art transported in
3:05:49
Speaker 1: one night from Alexandria to Pavia, where, being recognized by
3:05:54
Speaker 1: his wife that the bride feast held for her marrying again,
3:05:58
Speaker 1: he returneth with her to o his own house. Filhmina,
3:06:00
Speaker 1: having made an end of her discourse, and the magnificent
3:06:03
Speaker 1: gratitude of Titus having been of all alike commended the king,
3:06:06
Speaker 1: reserving the last place. Unto Dionio, proceeded to speak thus assuredly,
3:06:11
Speaker 1: lovesome ladies. Philamina speaketh sooth in that which she seeth
3:06:15
Speaker 1: of friendship, and with reason complaineth in concluding her discourse,
3:06:19
Speaker 1: of its being so little in favor with mankind. If
3:06:23
Speaker 1: we were here for the purpose of correcting the defaults
3:06:25
Speaker 1: of the age, or even of reprehending them, I might
3:06:28
Speaker 1: ensue her words with a discourse at large upon the subject.
3:06:31
Speaker 1: But for that we aim at otherwat It hath occurred
3:06:34
Speaker 1: to my mind to set forth to you in a
3:06:36
Speaker 1: story belike somewhat over long, but withal altogether pleasing one
3:06:40
Speaker 1: of the magnificences of Saladin, to the end that if
3:06:44
Speaker 1: by reason of our defaults, the friendship of any one
3:06:47
Speaker 1: may not be thoroughly acquired, we may at the least
3:06:50
Speaker 1: be led by the things which you shall hear in
3:06:52
Speaker 1: my story, to take delight in doing service, in the
3:06:55
Speaker 1: hope that, whensoever it may be, reward will ensue to
3:06:59
Speaker 1: us thereof I must tell you then, that, according to
3:07:03
Speaker 1: that which divers folk affirm, a general crusade was in
3:07:07
Speaker 1: the days of the Emperor Frederic, the first undertaken by
3:07:10
Speaker 1: the Christians for the recovery of the Holy Land, whereof Saladin,
3:07:13
Speaker 1: a very noble and valiant prince, who was then sold
3:07:16
Speaker 1: in of Babylon. Having noticed a while beforehand, he bethought
3:07:20
Speaker 1: himself to seek in his own person to see the
3:07:23
Speaker 1: preparations of the Christian princes for the undertaking in question,
3:07:26
Speaker 1: so he might the better avail to provide himself accordingly.
3:07:30
Speaker 1: Having ordered all his affairs in Egypt, he made a
3:07:33
Speaker 1: show of going to pilgrimage, and set out in the
3:07:35
Speaker 1: disguise of a merchant, attended by two only of his
3:07:38
Speaker 1: chiefest and sagist officers and three serving men. After he
3:07:42
Speaker 1: had visited many Christian countries, it chanced that as they
3:07:46
Speaker 1: rode through Lombardy, thinking to pass beyond the mountains four
3:07:49
Speaker 1: hundred seventy one, they encountered about vespers on the road
3:07:53
Speaker 1: from Milan to Pavia. A gentleman of the latter place
3:07:56
Speaker 1: by name Messer Torrello Distria, who was on his way
3:07:59
Speaker 1: with hid his servants and dogs and falcons to sojourn
3:08:03
Speaker 1: at a goodly country seat. He had upon the Tazino,
3:08:06
Speaker 1: and no sooner set eyes on Saladin and his company
3:08:09
Speaker 1: than he knew them for gentlemen and strangers. Wherefore the Sulden,
3:08:12
Speaker 1: inquiring of one of his servants, how far they were
3:08:15
Speaker 1: yet distant from Pavia, and if he might win thither
3:08:17
Speaker 1: in time to enter the city, he suffered not the
3:08:19
Speaker 1: man to reply, but himself answered, gentlemen, you cannot reach
3:08:24
Speaker 1: Pavia in time to enter therein, Then said Saladin, may
3:08:29
Speaker 1: it please you acquaint us, for that we are strangers,
3:08:32
Speaker 1: where we may best lodge the night? Quoth Messer Torrello,
3:08:36
Speaker 1: that will I willingly do. I had it presently in
3:08:39
Speaker 1: mind to despatch one of my men here to the
3:08:41
Speaker 1: neighborhood of Pavia, for somewhat. I will send him with you,
3:08:44
Speaker 1: and he shall bring you to a place where you
3:08:45
Speaker 1: may lodge conveniently enough. Then, turning to the discreetest of
3:08:50
Speaker 1: his men, he privily enjoined him what he should do,
3:08:53
Speaker 1: and send him with them, whilst he himself, making for
3:08:55
Speaker 1: his country house, let order, as best he might, a
3:08:59
Speaker 1: goodly supper, and set the tables in the garden, Which done,
3:09:02
Speaker 1: he posted himself at the door to await his guests. Meanwhile,
3:09:07
Speaker 1: the servant, devising with the gentlemen of one thing and another,
3:09:10
Speaker 1: led them about by certain byroads, and brought them, without
3:09:13
Speaker 1: their suspecting it, to his lord's residence, where when as
3:09:17
Speaker 1: Messer Torrello saw them, he came to meet them afoot
3:09:19
Speaker 1: and said, smiling, gentlemen, you are very welcome. Saladin, who
3:09:25
Speaker 1: was very quick of apprehension, understood that the gentleman had
3:09:28
Speaker 1: misdoubted him. They would not have accepted his invitation had
3:09:31
Speaker 1: he bidden them, when as he fell in with them,
3:09:33
Speaker 1: and had therefore brought them by practice to his house,
3:09:36
Speaker 1: so they might not avail to refuse to pass the
3:09:38
Speaker 1: night with him. And accordingly, returning his greeting, he said, Sir,
3:09:44
Speaker 1: and one could complain of men of courtesy, we might
3:09:46
Speaker 1: complain of you for that, letting be that you have
3:09:49
Speaker 1: somewhat hindered us from our road. You have, without our
3:09:52
Speaker 1: having merited your good will, otherwise than by a mere salutation,
3:09:56
Speaker 1: constrained us to accept of such noble hospitality as is
3:09:59
Speaker 1: this of yours. Gentlemen, answered Messer Torrello, who was a
3:10:03
Speaker 1: discreet and well spoken man, It is but a sorry
3:10:06
Speaker 1: hospitality that you will receive from us, regard had to
3:10:09
Speaker 1: that which should behove unto you. And I may judge
3:10:12
Speaker 1: by that which I apprehend from your carriage and that
3:10:14
Speaker 1: of your companions. But in truth, you could nowhere out
3:10:17
Speaker 1: of Pavia, have found any decent place of entertainment. Wherefore,
3:10:21
Speaker 1: let it not irk you to have gone some deal
3:10:23
Speaker 1: beside your way to have a little less unease. Meanwhile,
3:10:27
Speaker 1: his servants came round about the travelers, in helping them
3:10:30
Speaker 1: to dismount eased four hundred seventy two their horses. Messer
3:10:35
Speaker 1: Torrello then brought the three stranger gentlemen to the chambers
3:10:38
Speaker 1: prepared for them, where he let unbook them, and refreshed
3:10:41
Speaker 1: them somewhat with very cool wines, and entertained them an
3:10:43
Speaker 1: agreeable discourse till such time as they might stop. Saladin
3:10:48
Speaker 1: and his companions and servants all knew Latin, wherefore they
3:10:51
Speaker 1: understood very well and were understood, and it seemed to
3:10:54
Speaker 1: each of them that this gentleman was the most pleasant
3:10:56
Speaker 1: and well mannered man they had ever seen I and
3:10:59
Speaker 1: the best spoken. It appeared to Messer Torrello, on the
3:11:03
Speaker 1: other hand, that they were men of magnificent fashions and
3:11:05
Speaker 1: much more of account than he had at first conceived.
3:11:08
Speaker 1: Wherefore he was inwardly chagrined that he could not honor
3:11:11
Speaker 1: them that evening, with companions and with a more considerable entertainment.
3:11:15
Speaker 1: But for this he bethought himself to make them amends
3:11:18
Speaker 1: on the morrow, and accordingly, having instructed one of his
3:11:21
Speaker 1: servants of that which he would have done. He despatched
3:11:23
Speaker 1: him to Pavia, which was very near at hand, and
3:11:26
Speaker 1: where no gait was ever locked, to his lady, who
3:11:28
Speaker 1: was exceeding discreet and great hearted. Then, carrying the gentlemen
3:11:33
Speaker 1: into the garden, he courteously asked them who they were,
3:11:36
Speaker 1: to which Saladin answered, we are merchants from Cyprus, and
3:11:39
Speaker 1: are bound to Paris on our occasions. Would to God,
3:11:43
Speaker 1: cried Messer Torrello, that this our country produced gentlemen of
3:11:46
Speaker 1: such a fashion as I see Cypress doth merchants. In
3:11:50
Speaker 1: these and other discourses. They abode till it was time
3:11:53
Speaker 1: to sup whereupon he left it to them to honor
3:11:56
Speaker 1: themselves at table four hundred seventy three, and there for
3:11:59
Speaker 1: an improvised supper. They were very well and orderly served,
3:12:03
Speaker 1: nor had they a bid. Then long after the tables
3:12:05
Speaker 1: were removed, when Messer Torrello, judging them to be weary,
3:12:10
Speaker 1: put them to sleep in very goodly beds, and himself
3:12:12
Speaker 1: a little after, in like manner, betook himself to rest. Meanwhile,
3:12:16
Speaker 1: the servant sent to Pavia did his errand to the lady, who,
3:12:20
Speaker 1: with no womanly but with a royal spirit, let call
3:12:24
Speaker 1: in haste a great number of the friends and servants
3:12:26
Speaker 1: of Messer Torrello, and made ready all that behooved unto
3:12:29
Speaker 1: a magnificent banquet. Moreover, she let bid by torchlight many
3:12:33
Speaker 1: of the noblest of the town folk to the banquet,
3:12:36
Speaker 1: and bringing out cloths and silks and furs, caused throughly
3:12:39
Speaker 1: order at which her husband had sent to bid her due.
3:12:42
Speaker 1: The day come Saladin and his companions arose, whereupon Messer
3:12:46
Speaker 1: Torrello took horse with them, and, sending for his falcons,
3:12:49
Speaker 1: carried them to a neighboring ford, and there showed them
3:12:51
Speaker 1: how the latter flew. Then Salad, in inquiring for some
3:12:54
Speaker 1: one who should bring him to Pavia and to the
3:12:56
Speaker 1: best in his host, said I will be your guide,
3:13:00
Speaker 1: for that it behooveth me go thither. The others, believing this,
3:13:05
Speaker 1: were content, and set out in company with him for
3:13:07
Speaker 1: the city, which they reached about tears, and, thinking to
3:13:10
Speaker 1: be on their way to the best inn, were carried
3:13:12
Speaker 1: by Messer Torrello to his own house, where a good
3:13:15
Speaker 1: half hundred of the most considerable citizens were already come
3:13:18
Speaker 1: to receive the stranger gentlemen, and were straightway about their
3:13:21
Speaker 1: bridles and stirrups. Saladin and his companions, seeing this, understood
3:13:27
Speaker 1: but too well what was forward, and said Messer Torrello,
3:13:30
Speaker 1: This is not what we asked of you. You have
3:13:32
Speaker 1: done enough for us this past night, I and far
3:13:35
Speaker 1: more than we are worth. Wherefore you might now fitly
3:13:38
Speaker 1: suffer us fair on our way, gentlemen, replied Messer Torrello,
3:13:42
Speaker 1: for my yesternight's dealing with you, I am more indebted
3:13:45
Speaker 1: to fortune than to you, which took you on the
3:13:47
Speaker 1: road at an hour when it behold you come to
3:13:49
Speaker 1: my poor house. But of your this morning's visit, I
3:13:52
Speaker 1: shall be beholden to yourselves and with me all these
3:13:55
Speaker 1: gentlemen who are about you, and to whom in it
3:13:57
Speaker 1: seemed to you courteous to refuse to dine with them.
3:14:00
Speaker 1: You can do so if you will. Saladin and his companions, overcome, dismounted,
3:14:06
Speaker 1: and being joyfully received by the assembled company, were carried
3:14:09
Speaker 1: to chambers, which had been most sumptuously arrayed for them were.
3:14:12
Speaker 1: Having put off their traveling gear and somewhat refreshed themselves,
3:14:15
Speaker 1: they repaired to the saloon, where the banquet was splendidly prepared.
3:14:20
Speaker 1: Water having been given to the hands they were seated
3:14:23
Speaker 1: at table with the goodliest and most orderly observance, and
3:14:25
Speaker 1: magnificently served with many viands. Insomuch that were the Emperor
3:14:29
Speaker 1: himself come thither, it had been impossible to do him
3:14:32
Speaker 1: more honor. And albeit Saladin and his companions were great
3:14:35
Speaker 1: lords and used to see very great things naiveless, they
3:14:39
Speaker 1: were mightily wondered at this, and it seemed to them
3:14:42
Speaker 1: of the greatest having regard to the quality of the gentlemen,
3:14:45
Speaker 1: whom they knew to be only a citizen and not
3:14:47
Speaker 1: a lord. Dinner ended, and the tables removed. They conversed
3:14:51
Speaker 1: a while of divers things. Then, at Messer Torrello's instance,
3:14:56
Speaker 1: the heat being great, the gentlemen of Pavia all betook
3:14:59
Speaker 1: themselves to repose, whilst he himself, abiding alone with his
3:15:02
Speaker 1: three guests, carried them into a chamber, and that no
3:15:07
Speaker 1: precious thing of his should remain unseen of them, let
3:15:09
Speaker 1: call thither his noble lady. Accordingly, the latter, who was
3:15:14
Speaker 1: very fair and tall of her person, came in to them,
3:15:17
Speaker 1: prayed in rich apparel, and flanked by two little sons
3:15:19
Speaker 1: of hers, as they were two angels, and saluted them courteously.
3:15:24
Speaker 1: The strangers, seeing her, rose to their feet and receiving
3:15:27
Speaker 1: her with worship, caused her sit among them, and made
3:15:30
Speaker 1: much of her two fair children, therewithal. She entered into
3:15:34
Speaker 1: pleasant discourse with them, and presently Messer Torello, having gone
3:15:37
Speaker 1: out a while, she asked them courteously whence they were,
3:15:40
Speaker 1: and whither they went, to which they made answer, even
3:15:42
Speaker 1: as they had done to her husband. Whereupon quoth she
3:15:45
Speaker 1: with a blithe air, Then see I that my womanly
3:15:48
Speaker 1: advisement will be useful. Wherefore I pray you of your
3:15:52
Speaker 1: especial favor. Refuse me not neither disdain a slight present
3:15:56
Speaker 1: which I shall cause bring you, but accept it, considering
3:15:59
Speaker 1: that women of their little heart give little things, in
3:16:02
Speaker 1: regarding more the good will of the giver than the
3:16:04
Speaker 1: value of the gift. Then letting fetch them each two gowns,
3:16:08
Speaker 1: one lined with silk and the other with miniver, no
3:16:11
Speaker 1: wise citizens clothes nor merchants, but fit for great lords
3:16:14
Speaker 1: to wear, and three doublets of sendal and linen breeches
3:16:17
Speaker 1: to match. She said, Take these, I have clad my
3:16:21
Speaker 1: lord in gowns of the like fashion, and the other
3:16:23
Speaker 1: things for all they are little worth may be acceptable
3:16:27
Speaker 1: to you, considering that you are far from your ladies,
3:16:30
Speaker 1: and the length of the way you have traveled, and
3:16:31
Speaker 1: that which is yet to travel, and that merchants are
3:16:34
Speaker 1: proper men and nice of their persons. The Saracens marveled
3:16:38
Speaker 1: and manifestly perceived that Messer Torrello was minded to leave
3:16:41
Speaker 1: no particular of hospitality undone them. Nay, seeing the magnificence
3:16:45
Speaker 1: of the unmerchantlike gowns, they misdoubted them. They have been
3:16:48
Speaker 1: recognized of him. However, one of them made answer to
3:16:52
Speaker 1: the lady, saying, Madam, these are very great matters, and
3:16:56
Speaker 1: such as should not lightly be accepted, And your prayers,
3:16:59
Speaker 1: to which it is impossible to say no, constrained us.
3:17:02
Speaker 1: Not there too this done in Messer Torrello being now returned.
3:17:06
Speaker 1: The lady, commending them to God, took leave of them,
3:17:09
Speaker 1: and let furnish their servants with like things such as
3:17:12
Speaker 1: sordid with their condition. Messer Torrello, with many prayers, prevailed
3:17:16
Speaker 1: upon them to abide with him all that day. Wherefore,
3:17:19
Speaker 1: after they had slept awhile they donned their gowns and
3:17:22
Speaker 1: rode with him some deal about the city. Then the
3:17:24
Speaker 1: supper hour come, they supped magnificently with many worshipful companions,
3:17:28
Speaker 1: and in due time betook themselves to rest. On the
3:17:32
Speaker 1: morrow they arose with day and found in place of
3:17:35
Speaker 1: their tired hackneys, three stout and good palfreys, and on
3:17:39
Speaker 1: likewise fresh and strong horses for their servants, which, when
3:17:42
Speaker 1: Saladin saw, he turned to his companions and said, I
3:17:45
Speaker 1: vow to God that never was there a more accomplished gentleman,
3:17:48
Speaker 1: nor a more courteous and apprehensive than this one. And
3:17:52
Speaker 1: if the kings of the Christians are kings of such
3:17:54
Speaker 1: a fashion as this is a gentleman, the Suldan of
3:17:57
Speaker 1: Babylon can never hope to stand against a single one
3:17:59
Speaker 1: of them, not to speak of the many whom we
3:18:01
Speaker 1: see make ready to fall upon him. Then, knowing that
3:18:05
Speaker 1: it were in vain to seek to refuse this new gift,
3:18:08
Speaker 1: they very courteously thanked him there fore, and mounted to
3:18:11
Speaker 1: horse Messer Torrello, with many companions, brought them a great
3:18:15
Speaker 1: way without the city, till grievous as it was to
3:18:18
Speaker 1: Saladin to part from him, so much was he by
3:18:21
Speaker 1: this grown enamored of him, knaiveless need constraining him to
3:18:24
Speaker 1: press on, He presently besought him to turn back, whereupon
3:18:28
Speaker 1: loth As he was to leave them, gentlemen, quoth he,
3:18:32
Speaker 1: since it pleaseth you, I will do it. But one
3:18:35
Speaker 1: thing I will e'n say to you. I know not
3:18:37
Speaker 1: who you are, nor do I ask to no more
3:18:39
Speaker 1: thereof than it pleaseth you to tell me. But be
3:18:41
Speaker 1: you who you may, ye will never make me believe
3:18:44
Speaker 1: that you are merchants. And so I commend you to God. Saladin,
3:18:48
Speaker 1: having by this taken leave of all, Messer Torrello's companions
3:18:52
Speaker 1: replied to him, saying, Sir, we may yet chance to
3:18:55
Speaker 1: let you see somewhat of our merchandise, whereby we may
3:18:58
Speaker 1: confirm your belief. Winketh frown four hundred and seventy four. Meantime,
3:19:02
Speaker 1: God be with you. Thereupon he departed with his followers,
3:19:07
Speaker 1: firmly resolved. If life should endure to him in the war,
3:19:10
Speaker 1: he looked for undoe him not to do Messer Torrello
3:19:13
Speaker 1: no less honor than that which he had done him.
3:19:15
Speaker 1: And much did he discourse with his companions of him
3:19:17
Speaker 1: and of his lady in all his affairs and fashions
3:19:20
Speaker 1: and dealings, mightily commending everything. Then, after he had, with
3:19:25
Speaker 1: no little fatigue, visited all the west, he took ship
3:19:28
Speaker 1: with his companions and returned to Alexandria, where, being now
3:19:32
Speaker 1: fully informed, he addressed himself to his defense. As for
3:19:36
Speaker 1: Messer Torrello, he returned to Pavia and went long in
3:19:39
Speaker 1: thought who these might be, but never hit upon the truth,
3:19:42
Speaker 1: no nor came near it. The time being now come
3:19:46
Speaker 1: for the crusade, and great preparations made everywhere, Messer Torrello,
3:19:50
Speaker 1: notwithstanding the tears and entreaties of his wife, was altogether
3:19:53
Speaker 1: resolved to go thereon, and having made his every provision,
3:19:56
Speaker 1: in being about to take horse, he said to his lady,
3:19:59
Speaker 1: whom he loved over all, wife, as thou sayest I
3:20:03
Speaker 1: go on this crusade as well for the honor of
3:20:06
Speaker 1: my body as for the health of my soul. I
3:20:09
Speaker 1: commend to THEE our affairs in our honor, and for
3:20:11
Speaker 1: that I am certain of the going, but of the returning.
3:20:14
Speaker 1: For a thousand chances that may betide, I have no assurance.
3:20:18
Speaker 1: I will have THEE do me a favor to wit
3:20:20
Speaker 1: that whatever befall of me, and thou have not certain
3:20:23
Speaker 1: news of my life thou shalt await me a year
3:20:26
Speaker 1: and a month and a day, ere thou marry again,
3:20:29
Speaker 1: beginning from this the day of my departure. The lady,
3:20:32
Speaker 1: who wept sore, answered Messer Torrello. I know not how
3:20:36
Speaker 1: I shall endure the chagrin wherein you leave me by
3:20:39
Speaker 1: your departure. But and my life prove stronger than my
3:20:42
Speaker 1: grief and aught befall you. You may live and die.
3:20:44
Speaker 1: Assured that I shall live and die. The wife of
3:20:46
Speaker 1: Messer Torrello and of his memory wife rejoined Messer Torrello.
3:20:51
Speaker 1: I am very certain that inasmuch as in the leath
3:20:54
Speaker 1: this that thou promisest me will come to pass. But
3:20:57
Speaker 1: thou art a young woman and fair, and of high family,
3:21:00
Speaker 1: and thy worth is great and everywhere known. Wherefore I
3:21:02
Speaker 1: doubt not, but many great and noble gentlemen will should
3:21:05
Speaker 1: not be misdoubted of me. Four hundred and seventy five
3:21:09
Speaker 1: demand thee of thy brethren and kinsfolk, from whose importunities,
3:21:13
Speaker 1: how muchsoever thou mightest wish, thou wilt not be able
3:21:16
Speaker 1: to defend thyself, and it will behove thee perforce comply
3:21:19
Speaker 1: with their wishes. And this is why I ask of
3:21:21
Speaker 1: thee this term, and not a greater one, quoth the lady.
3:21:25
Speaker 1: I will do what I may of that which I
3:21:27
Speaker 1: have told you, and should it nevertheless behoove me to
3:21:29
Speaker 1: do otherwise, I will assuredly obey you in this that
3:21:32
Speaker 1: you enjoin me. But I pray God that he bring
3:21:34
Speaker 1: nor you nor me to such an extremity in these days.
3:21:38
Speaker 1: This said She embraced him, weeping, and, drawing a ring
3:21:41
Speaker 1: from her finger, gave it to him, saying, and it
3:21:44
Speaker 1: chance that I die ere I see you again, remember
3:21:47
Speaker 1: me when you look upon this ring. Torrello took the
3:21:50
Speaker 1: ring and mounted to horse, Then, bidding all his people adio,
3:21:54
Speaker 1: he set out on his journey, and came presently with
3:21:57
Speaker 1: his company to Genoa. There he embarked on board a galleon, and,
3:22:01
Speaker 1: coming in a little while to Acre, joined himself to
3:22:03
Speaker 1: the other army four hundred seventy six of the Christians, wherein,
3:22:08
Speaker 1: while nigh out of hand, there began a sore sickness
3:22:11
Speaker 1: and mortality. During this, whether by Saladin's skill or of
3:22:15
Speaker 1: his good fortune, while nigh all the remnant of the
3:22:18
Speaker 1: Christians who had escaped alive, were taken by him without
3:22:21
Speaker 1: blow stricken and divided among many cities and imprisoned. Messer
3:22:25
Speaker 1: Torrello was one of those taken, and was carried prisoner
3:22:28
Speaker 1: to Alexandria, where, being unknown and fearing to make himself known,
3:22:32
Speaker 1: he addressed himself of necessity constrained to the training of hawks,
3:22:36
Speaker 1: of which he was a great master, And by this
3:22:39
Speaker 1: he came under the notice of Saladin, who took him
3:22:42
Speaker 1: out of prison and entertained him for his falconer. Messer Torrello,
3:22:46
Speaker 1: who was called by the Suldan by none other name
3:22:49
Speaker 1: than the Christian, recognized him not nor did Saladin recognize him. Nay,
3:22:53
Speaker 1: all his thoughts were in Pavia, and he had more
3:22:55
Speaker 1: than once essayed to flee, but without avail. Wherefore, certain
3:23:00
Speaker 1: Genoese coming ambassadors to Saladin to treat for the ransom
3:23:04
Speaker 1: of sundry of their townsmen, and being about to depart,
3:23:07
Speaker 1: he bethought himself to write to his lady, giving her
3:23:09
Speaker 1: to know that he was alive and would return to
3:23:11
Speaker 1: her as quickly as he might, and bidding her await
3:23:13
Speaker 1: him accordingly. He wrote letters to this effect, and instantly
3:23:18
Speaker 1: besought one of the ambassadors whom he knew, to cause
3:23:21
Speaker 1: them come to the hands of the abbot of San
3:23:23
Speaker 1: Pietro in Sealdoro, who was his uncle. Things being at
3:23:27
Speaker 1: this pass with him, it befell one day that, as
3:23:30
Speaker 1: Saladin was devising with him of his hawks, Messer Torrello
3:23:33
Speaker 1: chanced to smile and made a motion with his mouth
3:23:36
Speaker 1: which the former had much noted what while he was
3:23:38
Speaker 1: in his house at Pavia. This brought the gentleman to
3:23:42
Speaker 1: his mind, and, looking steadfastly upon him him seemed it
3:23:45
Speaker 1: was himself. Wherefore, leaving the former discourse, harky Christian said,
3:23:49
Speaker 1: he what countrymen art thou of the west? My lord,
3:23:53
Speaker 1: replied Torrello, I am a lombard of a city called Pavia,
3:23:57
Speaker 1: a poor man and of mean condition. Saladin, hearing this,
3:24:02
Speaker 1: was in a manner certified of the truth of his suspicion,
3:24:04
Speaker 1: and said joyfully in himself, God hath vouchsafed me an
3:24:08
Speaker 1: opportunity of showing this man how grateful his courtesy was
3:24:11
Speaker 1: to me. Accordingly, without saying otherwise, he let lay out
3:24:15
Speaker 1: all his apparel in a chamber. In carrying him thither
3:24:18
Speaker 1: said to him, look, Christian, if there be any among
3:24:21
Speaker 1: these gowns that thou hast ever seen. Torrello looked and
3:24:25
Speaker 1: saw those which his lady had given Saladin, but naithlis,
3:24:29
Speaker 1: conceiving not that they could possibly be the same, he answered,
3:24:32
Speaker 1: my Lord, I know none of them, albeit in good sooth,
3:24:36
Speaker 1: these twain do favor certain gowns, wherewith all I, together
3:24:39
Speaker 1: with three merchants who came to my house, was invested aforetime. Thereupon, Saladin,
3:24:45
Speaker 1: unable to contain himself farther, embraced him tenderly, saying, you
3:24:49
Speaker 1: are Messer Torrello Distria, and I am one of the
3:24:52
Speaker 1: three merchants to whom your lady gave these gowns, And
3:24:54
Speaker 1: now is the time come to certify you what manner
3:24:57
Speaker 1: merchandise mine is, even as I told you at my
3:25:00
Speaker 1: parting from you might chance to betide. Messer Torrello, hearing this,
3:25:05
Speaker 1: was at once rejoiced and ashamed, rejoiced to have had
3:25:08
Speaker 1: such a guest, and ashamed for that him seemed he
3:25:10
Speaker 1: had entertained him. But scurvily then said Saladin, Messer Torrello,
3:25:15
Speaker 1: since God hath sent you hither to me, henceforth, consider
3:25:18
Speaker 1: that not I, but you are master here. Accordingly, after,
3:25:23
Speaker 1: they had mightily rejoiced in each other, he clad him
3:25:25
Speaker 1: in royal apparel, and carrying him into the presence of
3:25:28
Speaker 1: all his chief barons, commanded, after saying many things in
3:25:31
Speaker 1: praise of his worth, that he should, of all who
3:25:34
Speaker 1: held his favorite dear be honored as himself, which was
3:25:36
Speaker 1: thenceforward done of all, but above all of the two
3:25:40
Speaker 1: gentlemen who had been Saladin's companions in his house. The
3:25:44
Speaker 1: sudden height of glory to which Messer Torrello thus found
3:25:46
Speaker 1: himself advanced, put his lombardy affairs some deal out of
3:25:49
Speaker 1: his mind, more by token that he had good reason
3:25:52
Speaker 1: to hope that his letters were by this come to
3:25:54
Speaker 1: his uncle's hands. Now there had died and been buried
3:25:57
Speaker 1: in a camp, or rather in the host of the Cristristians,
3:26:00
Speaker 1: the day they were taken by Saladin, a pravoscil gentleman
3:26:03
Speaker 1: of little account, by name Messer Torrello de Dignis. By
3:26:07
Speaker 1: reason whereof Messer Torrello Diistria, being renowned throughout the army
3:26:11
Speaker 1: for his magnificence, whosoever heard say Messer Torrello is dead,
3:26:16
Speaker 1: believed it of Messer Torrello Diastria, not of him of Dignies.
3:26:20
Speaker 1: The hazard of the capture that ensued thereupon suffered not
3:26:23
Speaker 1: those who had been thus misled to be undeceived. Wherefore
3:26:26
Speaker 1: many Italians returned with this news, amongst whom were some
3:26:29
Speaker 1: who scrupled not to a vouch that they had seen
3:26:32
Speaker 1: him dead and had been at the burial. This coming
3:26:35
Speaker 1: to be known of his wife and kinsfolk was the
3:26:37
Speaker 1: cause of grievous and inexpressible sorrow, not only to them,
3:26:41
Speaker 1: but to all who had known him. It were longsome
3:26:44
Speaker 1: to set forth what and how great was the grief
3:26:46
Speaker 1: and sorrow and lamentation of his lady. But after having
3:26:50
Speaker 1: bemoaned herself some months in continual affliction, coming to sorrow less,
3:26:53
Speaker 1: and being sought in marriage with the chiefest men in Lombardy,
3:26:57
Speaker 1: she began to be presently importuned by her brother and
3:27:00
Speaker 1: other her kinsfolk to marry again. After having again and
3:27:04
Speaker 1: again refused with many tears, needs must she at the
3:27:07
Speaker 1: last consent perforce to do her kinsfolks will, on condition
3:27:10
Speaker 1: that she should abide without going to a husband, so
3:27:13
Speaker 1: long as she had promised. Messer Torrello. The lady's affairs
3:27:17
Speaker 1: at Pavia, being at this pass, and their lacking maybe
3:27:19
Speaker 1: eight days of the term appointed for her going to
3:27:21
Speaker 1: her new husband. It chanced that Messer Torrello espied one
3:27:25
Speaker 1: day in Alexandria, one whom he had seen embark with
3:27:27
Speaker 1: the Genoese ambassadors on board the galley that was to
3:27:30
Speaker 1: carry them back to Genoa, and calling him, asked him
3:27:34
Speaker 1: what manner voyage they had had, and when they had
3:27:36
Speaker 1: reached Genoa? Where too, The other replied, Sir, the galleon,
3:27:40
Speaker 1: as I heard in Crete where I remained, made an
3:27:43
Speaker 1: ill voyage for that. As she drew near unto Sicily,
3:27:46
Speaker 1: there arose a furious northerly wind, which drove her on
3:27:50
Speaker 1: to the Barbary quicksands. Nor was any one saved, and
3:27:54
Speaker 1: amongst the rest, two brothers of mine perished there. Messer Torrello,
3:27:59
Speaker 1: giving credit to his words, which were indeed but too true,
3:28:02
Speaker 1: and remembering him that the term required by him of
3:28:04
Speaker 1: his wife ended a few days, thence concluded that nothing
3:28:07
Speaker 1: could be known at Pavia of his condition, and held
3:28:10
Speaker 1: it for certain that the lady must have married again.
3:28:13
Speaker 1: Wherefore he fell into such a chagrin that he lost
3:28:16
Speaker 1: sleep and appetite, in taking to his bed, determined to die.
3:28:20
Speaker 1: When Saladin, who loved him above all heard of this,
3:28:24
Speaker 1: he came to him, in having by dint of many
3:28:26
Speaker 1: and urgent prayers, learned the cause of his grief and
3:28:29
Speaker 1: his sickness, upbraided him sore for that he had not
3:28:32
Speaker 1: before told it to him, and after besought him to
3:28:35
Speaker 1: be comforted, assuring him that if he would but take heart,
3:28:38
Speaker 1: he would so contrive that he should be in Pavia
3:28:40
Speaker 1: at the appointed term, and told him how. Messer Torrello,
3:28:44
Speaker 1: putting faith in Saladin's words, and having many a time
3:28:47
Speaker 1: heard say that this was possible, and had indeed been
3:28:49
Speaker 1: often enough done, began to take comfort and pressed Saladin
3:28:52
Speaker 1: to despatch the Sulden accordingly charged and nigromancer of his,
3:28:57
Speaker 1: of whose skill he had aforetime made proof to cast
3:29:00
Speaker 1: about for a means whereby Messer Torrello should be in
3:29:03
Speaker 1: one night transported upon a bed to Pavia, to which
3:29:06
Speaker 1: the magician replied that it should be done, but that
3:29:09
Speaker 1: for the gentleman's own weal, he must put him to sleep.
3:29:12
Speaker 1: This done, Salad and returned to Messer Torrello, and finding
3:29:16
Speaker 1: him altogether, resolved to seek at any hazard to be
3:29:18
Speaker 1: in Pavia at the term appointed, if it were possible,
3:29:21
Speaker 1: and in default thereof to die, bespoke him. Thus, Messer Torrello,
3:29:26
Speaker 1: God knoweth that I neither will nor can anywise blame
3:29:29
Speaker 1: you if you tenderly love your lady and are fearful
3:29:31
Speaker 1: of her becoming another's. For that, of all the women
3:29:34
Speaker 1: I ever saw, she it is whose manners, whose fashions,
3:29:37
Speaker 1: and whose demeanor leaving be her beauty, which is but
3:29:40
Speaker 1: a short lived flower, appeared to me most worthy to
3:29:43
Speaker 1: be commended and held dear. It had been very grateful
3:29:46
Speaker 1: to me since fortune hath sent you hither, that we
3:29:49
Speaker 1: should have passed together as equal masters in the governance
3:29:52
Speaker 1: of this my realm, such time as you and I
3:29:54
Speaker 1: have to live, and if this was not to be
3:29:56
Speaker 1: vouchsafed me of God it being fated that you should
3:30:00
Speaker 1: take it to heart to seek either to die or
3:30:01
Speaker 1: to find yourself in Pavia at the appointed term, I should,
3:30:04
Speaker 1: above all have desired to know it in time that
3:30:07
Speaker 1: I might have you transported to your house with such honor,
3:30:09
Speaker 1: such magnificence, and in such company as your worth meritath. However,
3:30:15
Speaker 1: since this hath not been vouchsafed, and you desire to
3:30:17
Speaker 1: be presently there, I will e'en as I may despatch
3:30:21
Speaker 1: you thither after the fashion whereof I have bespoken you,
3:30:24
Speaker 1: my lord, replied Messer Torrello. Your acts, without your words,
3:30:29
Speaker 1: have given me sufficient proof of your favor, which I
3:30:31
Speaker 1: have never merited in such supreme degree, and of that
3:30:34
Speaker 1: which you say, though you had not said it. I
3:30:36
Speaker 1: shall live and die most assured. But since I have
3:30:39
Speaker 1: taken this resolve, I pray you that that which you
3:30:43
Speaker 1: tell me you will do may be done speedily, for
3:30:45
Speaker 1: that tomorrow is the last day I am to be
3:30:47
Speaker 1: looked for salad, and answered that this should without fail
3:30:51
Speaker 1: be accomplished, and accordingly, on the morrow, meaning to send
3:30:54
Speaker 1: him away, that same night, he let make in a
3:30:57
Speaker 1: great hall of his palace a very goodly and rich
3:30:59
Speaker 1: bed of mattresses, all according to their uisance, A velvet
3:31:04
Speaker 1: and cloth of gold and cause lay thereon a counterpoint
3:31:07
Speaker 1: curiously wrought in various figures with great pearls and jewels
3:31:10
Speaker 1: of great price, the which here in Italy was after
3:31:12
Speaker 1: esteemed an inestimable treasure, and two pillows such as sorted
3:31:16
Speaker 1: with the bed of that fashion. This done, he bade
3:31:19
Speaker 1: invest Messer Torrello, who was presently well and strong, again
3:31:23
Speaker 1: in a gown of the Saracen fashion, the richest and
3:31:26
Speaker 1: goodliest thing that had ever been seen of any and
3:31:28
Speaker 1: wind about his head after their guise one of his
3:31:31
Speaker 1: longest turban cloths four hundred seventy seven. Then, it growing late,
3:31:36
Speaker 1: he betook himself with many of his barons to the
3:31:39
Speaker 1: chamber where Messer Torrello was in seating himself, while nigh
3:31:42
Speaker 1: weeping by his side. Bespoke him thus, Messer Torrello, the
3:31:46
Speaker 1: hour draweth near, that is to sunder me from you.
3:31:49
Speaker 1: And since I may not bear you company nor cause
3:31:51
Speaker 1: you to be accompanied by reason of the nature of
3:31:54
Speaker 1: the journey you have to make, which suffereth it not needs,
3:31:57
Speaker 1: must I take leave of you here in this chamber
3:32:00
Speaker 1: to which and I am come hither. Wherefore ere I
3:32:03
Speaker 1: commend you to God. I conjure you, by that love
3:32:06
Speaker 1: and that friendship that is between us, that you remember
3:32:09
Speaker 1: you of me. And if it be possible, ere are
3:32:11
Speaker 1: times come to an end that when as you have
3:32:14
Speaker 1: ordered your affairs in Lombardy, you come at the least
3:32:16
Speaker 1: once to see me to the end, that what while
3:32:19
Speaker 1: I am cheered by your sight, I may then supply
3:32:22
Speaker 1: the default which needs must I presently commit by reason
3:32:25
Speaker 1: of your haste, and against it betide. Let it not
3:32:28
Speaker 1: irk you to visit me with letters and require me
3:32:30
Speaker 1: of such things as shall please you. For that of
3:32:32
Speaker 1: assured I will more gladly do them for you than
3:32:34
Speaker 1: for any man alive. As for Messer Torrello, he could
3:32:38
Speaker 1: not contain his tears, Wherefore, being hindered thereby, he answered
3:32:43
Speaker 1: in a few words that it was impossible his benefits
3:32:46
Speaker 1: and his nobility should ever escape his mind, and that
3:32:48
Speaker 1: he would without fail do that which he enjoined him,
3:32:51
Speaker 1: when as occasions should be afforded him. Whereupon Saladin, having
3:32:56
Speaker 1: tenderly embraced him and kissed him, bade him with many tears,
3:32:59
Speaker 1: God's speed, and departed the chamber. The other barons then
3:33:03
Speaker 1: all took leave of him, and followed the Sulden into
3:33:05
Speaker 1: the hall, where he had caused make ready the bed. Meanwhile,
3:33:09
Speaker 1: it waxing late, and the niagrament, awaiting and pressing for despatch.
3:33:12
Speaker 1: There came a physician to Messer Torrello with a draft, and,
3:33:15
Speaker 1: making him believe that he gave it him to fortify him,
3:33:18
Speaker 1: caused him drink it. Nor was it long air. He
3:33:20
Speaker 1: fell asleep and so by Saladin's commandment was carried into
3:33:24
Speaker 1: the hall and laid upon the bed aforesaid, whereon the
3:33:28
Speaker 1: Suldan placed a great and goodly crown of great price,
3:33:30
Speaker 1: and inscribed it on such wise that it was after
3:33:33
Speaker 1: manifestly understood to be sent by him to Messer Torrello's lady.
3:33:36
Speaker 1: After which he put on Torrello's finger a ring wherein
3:33:39
Speaker 1: was a carbuncle and chaste so resplendent that it seemed
3:33:42
Speaker 1: a lighted flambo, the value whereof could scarce be reckoned,
3:33:46
Speaker 1: and gird him with a sword whose garniture might not
3:33:49
Speaker 1: lightly be appraised. Moreover, he let hang a fir male
3:33:53
Speaker 1: on his breast, wherein were pearls whose like were never seen,
3:33:56
Speaker 1: together with other precious stones galore. And on his either
3:33:59
Speaker 1: head side he caused set two great basins of gold
3:34:02
Speaker 1: full of doubloons, and many strings of pearls, and rings
3:34:06
Speaker 1: and girdles, and other things which it were tedious to
3:34:08
Speaker 1: recount round about him. This done, he kissed him once more,
3:34:13
Speaker 1: and bade the niagrament despatch, whereupon, in his presence the
3:34:17
Speaker 1: bed was in continent taken away Messer Torrello and all
3:34:20
Speaker 1: and salad in abode, devising of him with his barons. Meanwhile,
3:34:25
Speaker 1: Messer Torrello had been set down, even as he had requested,
3:34:28
Speaker 1: in the church of San Pietro in seal Doro at Pavia,
3:34:32
Speaker 1: with all the jewels and ornaments aforesaid, and yet slept.
3:34:35
Speaker 1: When Maddens, having sounded, the sacristan of the church, entered
3:34:38
Speaker 1: with a light in his hand, and chancing suddenly to
3:34:41
Speaker 1: espy the rich bed not only marveled, but seized with
3:34:45
Speaker 1: a terrible fright, turned and fled. The Abbot and the monks,
3:34:50
Speaker 1: seeing him flee marveled and questioned him of the cause,
3:34:53
Speaker 1: which he told them. Whereupon quoth the Abbot, marry thou
3:34:56
Speaker 1: art no child, nor art thou new to the church,
3:34:59
Speaker 1: that thou shouldst th us lightly take fright. Let us
3:35:01
Speaker 1: go see who hath played the bugbear with thee. Accordingly,
3:35:05
Speaker 1: kindling several lights, the Abbot and all his monks entered
3:35:09
Speaker 1: the church and saw that wonder rich and goodly bed,
3:35:11
Speaker 1: and thereon the gentleman asleep. And what while misdoubting and
3:35:15
Speaker 1: fearful they gazed upon the noble jewels, without drawing anywise
3:35:19
Speaker 1: near to the bed. It befell that the virtue of
3:35:21
Speaker 1: the draft being spent. Messer Torrello awoke and heaved a
3:35:25
Speaker 1: great sigh, which, when the monks saw and heard, they
3:35:28
Speaker 1: took to flight. Abbot, and all affrighted and crying Lord
3:35:32
Speaker 1: aid us. Messer Torrello opened his eyes, and, looking about him,
3:35:36
Speaker 1: plainly perceived himself to be whereas he had asked Saladin
3:35:39
Speaker 1: to have him carried, at which he was mightily content. Then,
3:35:44
Speaker 1: sitting up, he particularly examined at which he had about him,
3:35:47
Speaker 1: And for all he had before known of the magnificence
3:35:50
Speaker 1: of Saladin, it seemed to him now greater, and he
3:35:52
Speaker 1: knew it more. Nevertheless, without moving farther, seeing the monks
3:35:57
Speaker 1: flee and divining why, he proceeded to call the the
3:36:00
Speaker 1: Abbot by name, praying him be not afraid, for that
3:36:03
Speaker 1: he was Torrello, his nephew. The Abbot, hearing this, waxed
3:36:07
Speaker 1: yet more fearful, as holding him as dead many months before.
3:36:11
Speaker 1: But after a while, taking assurance by true arguments, and
3:36:14
Speaker 1: hearing himself called, he made the sign of the cross
3:36:17
Speaker 1: and went up to him, whereupon quoth Messer Torrello, how now,
3:36:21
Speaker 1: father mine, of what are you a dread God a mercy,
3:36:25
Speaker 1: I am alive, and returned hither from beyond seas. The Abbot,
3:36:29
Speaker 1: for all he had a great beard and was clad
3:36:31
Speaker 1: after the saracen fashion, presently recognized him and altogether reassured
3:36:36
Speaker 1: took him by the hand, saying, my son, thou art
3:36:39
Speaker 1: welcome back. Then he continued, thou must not marvel at
3:36:43
Speaker 1: our affright, for that there is not a man in
3:36:45
Speaker 1: these parts, but firmly believeth THEE to be dead, insomuch
3:36:48
Speaker 1: that I must tell THEE that Madame Adelia, thy wife,
3:36:51
Speaker 1: overmastered by the prayers and threats of her kinsfolk and
3:36:54
Speaker 1: against her own will, is married again, and is this
3:36:56
Speaker 1: morning to go to her new husband I and the
3:37:00
Speaker 1: bride feast, and all that pertaineth unto the nuptial festivities
3:37:03
Speaker 1: is prepared. Therewith all Messer Torrello arose from off the
3:37:07
Speaker 1: rich bed in, greeting the abbot and the monks with
3:37:09
Speaker 1: marvelous joyants prayed them all to speak with none of
3:37:12
Speaker 1: that his return against he should have despatched an occasion
3:37:15
Speaker 1: of his after which, having caused lay up the costly
3:37:19
Speaker 1: jewels in safety, he recounted to his uncle all that
3:37:22
Speaker 1: had befallen him up to that moment. The abbot rejoiced
3:37:25
Speaker 1: in his happy fortunes, and together with him, rendered thanks
3:37:28
Speaker 1: to God, after which Messer Torrello asked him who was
3:37:31
Speaker 1: his lady's new husband. The abbot told him, and Torrello said,
3:37:35
Speaker 1: I have a mind, ere folk know of my return
3:37:38
Speaker 1: to see what manner countenance is that of my wife
3:37:41
Speaker 1: in these nuptials. Wherefore, albeit it is not the usance
3:37:44
Speaker 1: of men of your habit to go to entertainments of
3:37:46
Speaker 1: this kind, I would have you contrive for the love
3:37:49
Speaker 1: of me, that we may go thither, you and I.
3:37:52
Speaker 1: The abbot replied that he would well, and accordingly, as
3:37:55
Speaker 1: soon as it was day, he sent to the new bridegroom,
3:37:58
Speaker 1: saying that he would fain be at his nuphers with
3:38:00
Speaker 1: a friend of his, where too, the gentleman answered that
3:38:03
Speaker 1: it liked him, passing well Accordingly, eating time come Messer Torrello,
3:38:08
Speaker 1: clad as he was prepared with his uncle to the
3:38:10
Speaker 1: bridegroom's house, beheld with wonderment of all who saw him,
3:38:14
Speaker 1: but recognized of none, and the abbot told every one
3:38:17
Speaker 1: that he was a Saracen sent ambassador from the Souldan
3:38:20
Speaker 1: to the King of France. He was therefore seated at
3:38:24
Speaker 1: a table right over against his lady, whom he beheld
3:38:27
Speaker 1: with the utmost pleasure, and him seemed she was troubled
3:38:29
Speaker 1: in countenance at these new nuptials. She in her turn,
3:38:34
Speaker 1: looked wilds upon him, but not of any cognizance that
3:38:37
Speaker 1: she had of him, For that his great beard and
3:38:39
Speaker 1: outlandish habit, and the firm assurance she had that he
3:38:41
Speaker 1: was dead, hindered her thereof. Presently, when as it seemed
3:38:45
Speaker 1: to him time to essay if she remembered her of him,
3:38:48
Speaker 1: he took the ring she had given him at his
3:38:50
Speaker 1: parting in calling. A lad who served before her said
3:38:52
Speaker 1: to him, say to the bride on my part, that
3:38:55
Speaker 1: it is the usance in my country, when as any
3:38:58
Speaker 1: stranger such as I am here he teth at the
3:39:00
Speaker 1: bride feast of any new married lady like herself, that
3:39:04
Speaker 1: she in token that she holdeth him welcome at her table.
3:39:08
Speaker 1: Send him the cup wherein she drinketh full of wine,
3:39:11
Speaker 1: whereof after the stranger hath drunken what he will, the
3:39:14
Speaker 1: cup being covered again, the bride drinketh the rest. The
3:39:18
Speaker 1: page did his errand to the lady, who, like a
3:39:20
Speaker 1: well bred and discreet woman, as she was, believing him
3:39:23
Speaker 1: to be some great gentleman, commanded to show him that
3:39:26
Speaker 1: she had his coming in greed that a great gilded
3:39:29
Speaker 1: cup which stood before her should be washed and filled
3:39:32
Speaker 1: with wine and carried to the gentleman. And so it
3:39:34
Speaker 1: was done. Messer Torrello, taking her ring in his mouth, contrived,
3:39:39
Speaker 1: in drinking to drop it, unseen of any into the cup, wherein,
3:39:43
Speaker 1: having left but a little wine, he covered it again
3:39:46
Speaker 1: and despatched it to the lady. Madame Adeliada, taking the
3:39:50
Speaker 1: cup and uncovering it that she might accomplish his usance,
3:39:53
Speaker 1: set it to her mouth, and, seeing the ring, considered
3:39:56
Speaker 1: it a while without saying aught. Then, knowing it for
3:39:59
Speaker 1: that which she had given to Messer Torrello at parting,
3:40:02
Speaker 1: she took it up, and, looking fixedly upon him, whom
3:40:04
Speaker 1: she deemed a stranger, presently recognized him. Whereupon, as she
3:40:09
Speaker 1: were wax and mad, she overthrew the table she had
3:40:12
Speaker 1: before her, and cried out, saying, it is my lord,
3:40:15
Speaker 1: it is indeed Messer Torrello. Then, running to the place
3:40:19
Speaker 1: where he sat, she cast herself as far forward as
3:40:22
Speaker 1: she might, without taking thought to her clothes or to
3:40:25
Speaker 1: aught that was on the table, and clipped him close
3:40:27
Speaker 1: in her arms, nor could for word or deed of
3:40:30
Speaker 1: any there be loosed from his neck till she was
3:40:32
Speaker 1: bidden of Messer Torrello contain herself somewhat for that time
3:40:36
Speaker 1: enough would yet be afforded her to embrace him. She accordingly,
3:40:40
Speaker 1: having arisen, and the nuptials being by this all troubled,
3:40:43
Speaker 1: albeit in part more joyous than ever for the recovery
3:40:46
Speaker 1: of such a gentleman, every one, at Messer Torrello's request,
3:40:49
Speaker 1: abode quiet. Whereupon he related to them all that had
3:40:53
Speaker 1: betided him from the day of his departure up to
3:40:55
Speaker 1: that moment, concluding that the gentleman, who deeming him dead,
3:40:59
Speaker 1: had taken and his lady to wife must not hold
3:41:02
Speaker 1: it ill if he, being alive, took her again unto himself.
3:41:06
Speaker 1: The bridegroom, though somewhat mortified, answered frankly, and as a
3:41:10
Speaker 1: friend that had rested with himself to do what most
3:41:12
Speaker 1: pleased him of his own. Accordingly, the lady put off
3:41:16
Speaker 1: the ring and crown had of her new groom, and
3:41:18
Speaker 1: donned the ring which she had taken from the cup
3:41:20
Speaker 1: and the Crown sent her by the soldan. Then issuing
3:41:23
Speaker 1: forth of the house where they were, they betook themselves
3:41:26
Speaker 1: with all the nuptial train to Messer Torrello's house, and
3:41:30
Speaker 1: there recomforted his disconsolate friends and kindred, and all the townsfolk,
3:41:34
Speaker 1: who regarded his return as well nigh a miracle, with
3:41:36
Speaker 1: long and joyous festival as for Messer Torrello, after imparting
3:41:41
Speaker 1: of his precious jewels to him who had had the
3:41:43
Speaker 1: expense of the nuptials, as well as to the abbot
3:41:46
Speaker 1: and many others, and signifying his happy repatriation by more
3:41:49
Speaker 1: than one message to Saladin, whose friend and servant he
3:41:52
Speaker 1: still professed himself. He lived many years thereafterward with his
3:41:57
Speaker 1: noble lady, and thenceforth used more hospitaltality and courtesy than ever.
3:42:02
Speaker 1: Such then was the issue of the troubles of Messer
3:42:05
Speaker 1: Torrello and his beloved lady, in the recompense of their
3:42:07
Speaker 1: cheerful and ready hospitalities, the which many study to practice, who,
3:42:12
Speaker 1: albeit they have the wherewithal, do yet so ill contrive
3:42:15
Speaker 1: it that they make those on whom they bestow their
3:42:17
Speaker 1: courtesies by them ere they have done with them for
3:42:20
Speaker 1: more than their worth. Wherefore, if no reward ensue to
3:42:24
Speaker 1: them thereof, neither themselves nor others should marvel thereat the
3:42:28
Speaker 1: tenth story day the tenth the marquis of Saluzzo, constrained
3:42:32
Speaker 1: by the prayers of his vassals TiO Mary, but determined
3:42:34
Speaker 1: t o do it after his own fashion, taketh t
3:42:37
Speaker 1: o wife, the daughter of a peasant, in half of
3:42:39
Speaker 1: her two children, whom he mocketh believe to her too
3:42:42
Speaker 1: put the death, after which, feigning to be grown weary
3:42:46
Speaker 1: of her and to have taken another wife, he letteth
3:42:49
Speaker 1: bring his own daughter home to his house, as she
3:42:51
Speaker 1: were his new bride, and turneth his wife away in
3:42:54
Speaker 1: her shift. But finding her patient under everything, he fetcheth
3:42:58
Speaker 1: her home again, dearer than ever, and showing her her
3:43:01
Speaker 1: children grown great, honorreth and letteth honor her a s marchioness.
3:43:05
Speaker 1: The king's long story being ended, in having to all
3:43:08
Speaker 1: appearance much pleased all Dionio said, laughing the good man
3:43:13
Speaker 1: four hundred and seventy eight, who looked that night to
3:43:15
Speaker 1: abase the phantom's tale upright four hundred and seventy nine
3:43:19
Speaker 1: had not given a brace of farthings of all the
3:43:21
Speaker 1: praises that you bestow on Messer Torrello. Then, knowing that
3:43:25
Speaker 1: it rested with him alone to tell, he proceeded gentle
3:43:28
Speaker 1: Lady's mind. It appereth to me that this day hath
3:43:31
Speaker 1: been given up to kings and suldans and the like folk. Wherefore,
3:43:35
Speaker 1: that I may not remove over far from you, I
3:43:37
Speaker 1: purpose to relate to you. Of a marquis not an
3:43:40
Speaker 1: act of magnificence, but a monstrous folly, which, albeit good
3:43:45
Speaker 1: and sued to him thereof, in the end I counsel
3:43:47
Speaker 1: not any to imitate, for it was a thousand pities
3:43:50
Speaker 1: that will betided him thereof it is now a great
3:43:53
Speaker 1: while agon, since the chief of the house among the
3:43:55
Speaker 1: marquesses of Saluzzo was a youth called Gaultieri, who, having
3:43:59
Speaker 1: neither wife, life, nor children, spent his time in not
3:44:02
Speaker 1: but hunting and hawking, nor had any thought of taking
3:44:04
Speaker 1: a wife, nor of having children, wherein he deserved to
3:44:07
Speaker 1: be reputed very wise. The thing, however, not pleasing his vassals.
3:44:12
Speaker 1: They besought him many times to take a wife, so
3:44:15
Speaker 1: he might not abide without an heir, nor they without
3:44:17
Speaker 1: a lord, and offer themselves to find him one of
3:44:20
Speaker 1: such a fashion, and born of such parents, that good
3:44:22
Speaker 1: hopes might be had of her, and he be well
3:44:24
Speaker 1: content with her. Whereto, he answered, my friends, you constrain
3:44:29
Speaker 1: me unto that which I was altogether resolved never to do,
3:44:32
Speaker 1: considering how hard a thing it is to find a
3:44:34
Speaker 1: wife whose fashions sort well within one's own humor, and
3:44:37
Speaker 1: how great an abundance there is of the contrary sort,
3:44:39
Speaker 1: and how dar a life is his who happeneth upon
3:44:42
Speaker 1: a woman not well suited unto him? To say that
3:44:45
Speaker 1: you think, by the manners and fashions of the parents
3:44:48
Speaker 1: to know the daughters wherefrom you argue to give me
3:44:50
Speaker 1: a wife such as will please me is a folly,
3:44:53
Speaker 1: since I know not whence you may avail to know
3:44:55
Speaker 1: their fathers, nor yet the secrets of their mothers, and
3:44:58
Speaker 1: even did you know them, daughters often unlike their parents. However,
3:45:03
Speaker 1: since it e'en pleaseth you to bind me in these chains,
3:45:06
Speaker 1: I am content to do your desire, but that I
3:45:09
Speaker 1: may not have occasion to complain of other than myself.
3:45:11
Speaker 1: If it prove ill done, I mean to find a
3:45:13
Speaker 1: wife for myself, certifying you that whomsoever I may take
3:45:17
Speaker 1: me if she be not honored of you as your
3:45:19
Speaker 1: lady and mistress. Ye shall prove to your cost how
3:45:24
Speaker 1: much it irketh me to have it your entreaty taken
3:45:26
Speaker 1: a wife against mine own will. The good honest men
3:45:29
Speaker 1: replied that they were content, so he would but bring
3:45:32
Speaker 1: himself to take a wife. Now, the fashions of a
3:45:36
Speaker 1: poor girl who was of a village near to his
3:45:38
Speaker 1: house had long pleased Gualtieri, and him, seeming she was
3:45:41
Speaker 1: fair enough, he judged that he might lead a very
3:45:44
Speaker 1: comfortable life with her. Wherefore, without seeking farther, he determined
3:45:48
Speaker 1: to marry her, in sending for her father, who was
3:45:51
Speaker 1: a very poor man, agreed with him to take her
3:45:54
Speaker 1: to wife. This done, he assembled all his friends of
3:45:58
Speaker 1: the country round and said to them, my friends, it
3:46:00
Speaker 1: hath pleased and pleaseth you that I should dispose me
3:46:03
Speaker 1: to take a wife. And I have resigned myself there too,
3:46:05
Speaker 1: more to complease you than of any desire I have
3:46:08
Speaker 1: for marriage. You know what you promised me to wit,
3:46:12
Speaker 1: that you would be content with an honor as your
3:46:14
Speaker 1: lady and mistress, or whom I should take, whosoever she
3:46:16
Speaker 1: might be. Wherefore, the time is come when I am
3:46:19
Speaker 1: to keep my promise to you, and when I would
3:46:21
Speaker 1: of you keep yours to me. I have found a
3:46:24
Speaker 1: damsel after mine own heart, and purpose within some few
3:46:26
Speaker 1: days hence to marry her and bring her home to
3:46:29
Speaker 1: my house. Wherefore do you bethink yourselves how the bride
3:46:32
Speaker 1: feast may be a goodly one, and how you may
3:46:34
Speaker 1: receive her with honor on such wise that I may
3:46:36
Speaker 1: have vouch myself contented of your promise, even as you
3:46:40
Speaker 1: will have cause to be of mine. The good folk
3:46:43
Speaker 1: all answered joyfully that this liked them well, and that
3:46:46
Speaker 1: be she who he would, they would hold her for
3:46:48
Speaker 1: lady and mistress, and honor her as such in all things,
3:46:51
Speaker 1: after which they all addressed themselves to hold fair and
3:46:54
Speaker 1: high and glad festival. And onlike wise did Gaultieri, who
3:46:58
Speaker 1: let make ready very great and goodly nuptials, and bade
3:47:01
Speaker 1: their too many his friends and kinsfolk, and great gentlemen
3:47:04
Speaker 1: and others of the neighborhood. Moreover, he let cut in
3:47:08
Speaker 1: fashioned store of rich and goodly apparel, after the measure
3:47:11
Speaker 1: of a damsel who seemed to him like of her
3:47:13
Speaker 1: person to the young woman he was purpose to marry,
3:47:15
Speaker 1: and provided also rings and girdles, and a rich and
3:47:18
Speaker 1: goodly crown, and all that behoveth unto a bride. The
3:47:22
Speaker 1: day come that he had appointed for the nuptials, Gaultiery
3:47:25
Speaker 1: towards half Tierce, mounted to horse, he and all those
3:47:27
Speaker 1: who were come to do him honor, And having ordered
3:47:30
Speaker 1: everything needful, gentlemen, quoth he it is time to go
3:47:34
Speaker 1: fetch the bride. Then, setting out with all his company,
3:47:39
Speaker 1: he rode to the village, and, betaking himself to the
3:47:41
Speaker 1: house of the girl's father, found her, returning in great
3:47:44
Speaker 1: haste with water from the spring, so she might after
3:47:46
Speaker 1: go with other women to see Gualtieri's bride come. When
3:47:50
Speaker 1: the marquis saw her, he called her by name to
3:47:53
Speaker 1: wit Griselda, and asked her where her father was, to
3:47:56
Speaker 1: which she answered bashfully, my Lord, he is within them house.
3:48:01
Speaker 1: Thereupon Gualtieri dismounted, and, bidding all await him, entered the
3:48:05
Speaker 1: poor house alone, where he found her father, whose name
3:48:08
Speaker 1: was Giannucolo, and said to him, I am come to
3:48:11
Speaker 1: marry Griselda, but first I would fain know of her
3:48:13
Speaker 1: somewhat in thy presence. Accordingly, he asked her if and
3:48:18
Speaker 1: he took her to wife she would still study to
3:48:20
Speaker 1: please him, nor take umbrage at ought that he should
3:48:22
Speaker 1: do or say, and if she would be obedient, and
3:48:25
Speaker 1: many other like things, to all of which she answered I.
3:48:28
Speaker 1: Whereupon GUALTIERI, taking her by the hand, led her forth and,
3:48:33
Speaker 1: in the presence of all his company and of every
3:48:35
Speaker 1: one else, let strip her naked. Then, sending for the
3:48:39
Speaker 1: garments which he had let make, he caused forthright clothe
3:48:42
Speaker 1: and shoe her, and whatever set the crown on her
3:48:44
Speaker 1: hair all tumbled as it was, after which all marveling
3:48:48
Speaker 1: at this, he said, gentlemen, this is she who I
3:48:52
Speaker 1: purpose shall be my wife, and she will have me
3:48:54
Speaker 1: to husband. Then, turning to her where she stood all
3:48:58
Speaker 1: shamefast and confess founded, he said to her, Griselda, wilt
3:49:02
Speaker 1: thou have me to thy husband, to which she answered, I,
3:49:06
Speaker 1: my lord quoth he, and I will have thee to
3:49:10
Speaker 1: my wife, and espoused her in the presence of all.
3:49:13
Speaker 1: Then mounting her on a palfrey, he carried her honorably
3:49:17
Speaker 1: accompanied to his mansion, where the nuptials were celebrated with
3:49:20
Speaker 1: the utmost splendor and rejoicing, no otherwise than as he
3:49:24
Speaker 1: had taken to wife. The King's daughter of France. The
3:49:27
Speaker 1: young wife seemed to have, together with her clothes, changed
3:49:31
Speaker 1: her mind and her manners. She was, as we have
3:49:34
Speaker 1: already said, goodly of person and countenance, and even as
3:49:38
Speaker 1: she was fair, on like wise she became so engaging,
3:49:41
Speaker 1: so pleasant, and so well mannered, that she seemed rather
3:49:44
Speaker 1: to have been the child of some noble gentleman than
3:49:46
Speaker 1: the daughter of Giannucolo and a tender of sheep, whereof
3:49:50
Speaker 1: she made every one marvel who had known her aforetime. Moreover,
3:49:54
Speaker 1: she was so obedient to her husband, and so diligent
3:49:57
Speaker 1: in his service, that he accounted himself the happiest and
3:50:00
Speaker 1: best contented man in the world. Anon likewise, she bore
3:50:04
Speaker 1: herself with such graciousness and such loving kindness towards her
3:50:07
Speaker 1: husband's subjects, that there was none of them but loved
3:50:09
Speaker 1: and honored her with his whole heart, praying all for
3:50:12
Speaker 1: her welfare and prosperity and advancement. And whereas they were
3:50:15
Speaker 1: used to say that Gualtieri had done as one of
3:50:18
Speaker 1: little wit to take her to wife, they now, with
3:50:21
Speaker 1: one accord, declared that he was the sagest and best
3:50:23
Speaker 1: advised man alive, for that none other than he might
3:50:26
Speaker 1: ever have availed to know her high worth, hidden as
3:50:29
Speaker 1: it was under poor clothes and a rustic habit. Brief
3:50:33
Speaker 1: it was no great while ere she knew so to
3:50:35
Speaker 1: do that not only in her husband's marquisate, but everywhere
3:50:38
Speaker 1: else she made folk talk of her virtues and her
3:50:41
Speaker 1: well doing, in turn to the contrary whatsoever had been
3:50:44
Speaker 1: said against her husband on her account. When as he
3:50:46
Speaker 1: married her she had not long a been den with
3:50:50
Speaker 1: gualtiery air. She conceived with child, and in due time
3:50:53
Speaker 1: bore a daughter, whereat he rejoiced greatly. But a little
3:50:57
Speaker 1: after New four hundred and eighty aught, having entered his
3:51:01
Speaker 1: mind to wit, to seek, by dint of long tribulation
3:51:04
Speaker 1: and things unendurable, to make trial of her patience, he
3:51:08
Speaker 1: first goaded her with words, feigning himself troubled, and saying
3:51:11
Speaker 1: that his vassals were exceeding ill content with her by
3:51:14
Speaker 1: reason of her mean extraction, especially since they saw that
3:51:18
Speaker 1: she bore children, and that they did nothing but murmur,
3:51:21
Speaker 1: being sore chagrined for the birth of her daughter. The lady,
3:51:25
Speaker 1: hearing this, replied, without any wise changing countenance or showing
3:51:29
Speaker 1: the least distemperature. My Lord, do with me that which
3:51:32
Speaker 1: thou deemest will be most for thine honor and solace.
3:51:35
Speaker 1: For that I shall be content withal, knowing as I do,
3:51:39
Speaker 1: that I am of less account than they four hundred
3:51:41
Speaker 1: eighty one, and that I was unworthy of this dignity
3:51:44
Speaker 1: to which thou hast advanced me of thy courtesy. This
3:51:48
Speaker 1: reply was mighty agreeable to Gultiery, for that he saw
3:51:51
Speaker 1: she was not uplifted into aught of pridefulness for any
3:51:53
Speaker 1: honour that himself or others had done her. But a
3:51:56
Speaker 1: little after, having in general terms told her that his
3:51:59
Speaker 1: vassals could not brook this girl that had been born
3:52:01
Speaker 1: of her, he sent to her a serving man of
3:52:03
Speaker 1: his whom he had lessened, and who said to her,
3:52:07
Speaker 1: with a very woeful countenance, Madam, and I would not die.
3:52:10
Speaker 1: Needs must I do that which my Lord common death me.
3:52:14
Speaker 1: He hath bidden me take this your daughter, and and
3:52:17
Speaker 1: said no more. The lady, hearing this, and seeing the
3:52:21
Speaker 1: servant's aspect, and remembering her of her husband's words, concluded
3:52:25
Speaker 1: that he had enjoined him put the child to death, whereupon,
3:52:28
Speaker 1: without changing countenance, albeit she felt a sore anguish at heart,
3:52:32
Speaker 1: She straightway took her from the cradle, and, having kissed
3:52:35
Speaker 1: and blessed her, laid her in the servant's arms, saying,
3:52:39
Speaker 1: take her and punctually do that which thy lord hath
3:52:41
Speaker 1: enjoined thee, but leave her not to be devoured of
3:52:44
Speaker 1: the beasts and the birds, except he commanded thee. The
3:52:47
Speaker 1: servant took the child and reported that which the lady
3:52:50
Speaker 1: had said to Gualtieri, who marveled at her constancy, and
3:52:53
Speaker 1: despatched him with the child to a kinswoman of his
3:52:55
Speaker 1: at Bologna, praying her to bring her up and rear
3:52:58
Speaker 1: her diligently, without ever saying whose daughter she was. In
3:53:02
Speaker 1: course of time, the lady again conceived, and in due
3:53:05
Speaker 1: season bore a male child, to her husband's great joy,
3:53:08
Speaker 1: but that which he had already done, sufficing him not,
3:53:11
Speaker 1: he addressed himself to probe her to the quick with
3:53:13
Speaker 1: a yet sorrow stroke, and accordingly said to her, one day,
3:53:16
Speaker 1: with a troubled air wife, since thou hast borne this
3:53:19
Speaker 1: male child, I have no wise been able to live
3:53:23
Speaker 1: in peace with these my people. So sore do they
3:53:25
Speaker 1: murmur that a grandson of Giannucolo should become their lord
3:53:28
Speaker 1: after me wherefore I missed out me, and I would
3:53:30
Speaker 1: not be driven forth of my domains. It will behooved
3:53:33
Speaker 1: me due in this case that which I did otherwen,
3:53:35
Speaker 1: and ultimately put thee away and take another wife. The
3:53:39
Speaker 1: lady gave ear to him with a patient mind, nor
3:53:41
Speaker 1: answered otherwot then, my lord, study to content thyself and
3:53:45
Speaker 1: to satisfy thy pleasure, and have no thought of me,
3:53:48
Speaker 1: for that nothing is dear to me, save in so
3:53:50
Speaker 1: much as I see it pleased thee. Not many days after,
3:53:54
Speaker 1: Gualtieri sent for the Sun, even as he had sent
3:53:56
Speaker 1: for the daughter, and making a like show of having
3:53:59
Speaker 1: him put to death, despatched him to Bologna, there to
3:54:02
Speaker 1: be brought up, even as he had done with the girl.
3:54:04
Speaker 1: But the lady made no other countenance, nor other words
3:54:07
Speaker 1: thereof than she had done of the girl. Whereat Gualtiery
3:54:11
Speaker 1: marveled sore, and affirmed in himself that no other woman
3:54:13
Speaker 1: could have availed to do this that she did. And
3:54:16
Speaker 1: had he not seen her tender her children with the
3:54:18
Speaker 1: utmost fondness, what while it pleased him, he had believed
3:54:21
Speaker 1: that she did this because she wrecked no more of them,
3:54:23
Speaker 1: Whereas in effect he knew that she did it of
3:54:25
Speaker 1: her discretion. His vassals, believing that he had caused put
3:54:30
Speaker 1: the children to death, blamed him sore, accounting him a
3:54:33
Speaker 1: barbarous man, and had the utmost compassion of his wife,
3:54:36
Speaker 1: who never answered other what to the ladies who condoled
3:54:39
Speaker 1: with her for her children. Thus slain than that that
3:54:41
Speaker 1: which pleased him, thereof who had begotten them pleased her also.
3:54:45
Speaker 1: At last, several years being passed since the birth of
3:54:49
Speaker 1: the girl, Gualtieri, deeming it time to make the supreme
3:54:52
Speaker 1: trial of her endurance, declared in the presence of his
3:54:55
Speaker 1: people that he could no longer endure to have griseld
3:54:58
Speaker 1: her to wife, and that he perceived that he had
3:54:59
Speaker 1: done unill and boyishly in taking her. Wherefore he purposed,
3:55:03
Speaker 1: as far as in him lay, to make interest with
3:55:06
Speaker 1: the Pope to grant him a dispensation so he might
3:55:09
Speaker 1: put her away and take another wife. For this he
3:55:12
Speaker 1: was roundly taken to task by many men of worth,
3:55:15
Speaker 1: but answered them nothing save that needs must it be
3:55:17
Speaker 1: so the lady, hearing these things and her seeming, she
3:55:21
Speaker 1: must look to return to her father's house and maybe
3:55:24
Speaker 1: ten sheep again, as she had done aforetime. But while
3:55:26
Speaker 1: she saw another woman in possession of him, to whom
3:55:29
Speaker 1: she willed all her weal, sorrowed sore in herself. But
3:55:32
Speaker 1: yet even as she had borne the other affronts of fortune,
3:55:36
Speaker 1: so with a firm countenance she addressed herself to bear
3:55:39
Speaker 1: this Also. Gualtiery no great while after let come to
3:55:42
Speaker 1: him from Rome counterfeit letters of dispensation, and gave his
3:55:45
Speaker 1: vassals to believe that the Pope had thereby licensed him
3:55:48
Speaker 1: to take another wife and leave Griselda. Then, sending for
3:55:51
Speaker 1: the latter, he said to her, in presence of many wife,
3:55:56
Speaker 1: by concession made me of the Pope, I am free
3:55:58
Speaker 1: to take another wife and put thee away. And accordingly,
3:56:01
Speaker 1: for that mine ancestors have been great gentlemen and lords
3:56:04
Speaker 1: of this country, whilst thine have still been husbandmen. I
3:56:07
Speaker 1: mean that thou be no more my wife, but that
3:56:09
Speaker 1: thou returned to Gianucoalo his house with the dowry which
3:56:12
Speaker 1: thou broadest me. And I will after bring hither another wife,
3:56:16
Speaker 1: for that I have found one more sworded to myself.
3:56:20
Speaker 1: The lady, hearing this, contained her tears, contrary to the
3:56:23
Speaker 1: nature of woman, though not without great unease, and answered,
3:56:27
Speaker 1: my lord, I ever knew my mean estate to be
3:56:30
Speaker 1: no wise sortable with your nobility, And for that which
3:56:33
Speaker 1: I have been with you, I have still confessed myself
3:56:36
Speaker 1: indebted to you and to God. Nor have I ever
3:56:38
Speaker 1: made nor held it mine as given to me, but
3:56:41
Speaker 1: have still accounted it but as alone. It pleaseth you
3:56:44
Speaker 1: to require it again, and it must, and doth please
3:56:47
Speaker 1: me to restore it to you. Here is your ring,
3:56:50
Speaker 1: wherewith you espoused me take it. You bid me carry
3:56:53
Speaker 1: away with me that dowry which I brought hither, which
3:56:56
Speaker 1: to do you will need no pay master, and I
3:56:58
Speaker 1: neither purse nor pack horse. For I have not forgotten
3:57:01
Speaker 1: that you had me naked. And if you account it
3:57:03
Speaker 1: seemly that this my body wherein I have carried children,
3:57:06
Speaker 1: begotten of you be seen of all. I will begone naked.
3:57:09
Speaker 1: But I pray you, in requital of my maidenhead, which
3:57:13
Speaker 1: I brought hither, and bare not hands with me, that
3:57:15
Speaker 1: it please you I may carry away at the least
3:57:17
Speaker 1: one soul shift over and above my dowry. GUALTIERI, who
3:57:22
Speaker 1: had more mind to weep than to other WoT Nathlus
3:57:24
Speaker 1: kept a stern countenance, and said, so be it carry
3:57:27
Speaker 1: away a shift. As many as stood around besought him
3:57:31
Speaker 1: to give her a gown, so that she, who had
3:57:33
Speaker 1: been thirteen years and more his wife, should not be
3:57:35
Speaker 1: seen go forth of his house on such mean and
3:57:37
Speaker 1: shameful wise as it was to depart in her shift.
3:57:40
Speaker 1: But their prayers all went for nothing. Wherefore the lady,
3:57:43
Speaker 1: having commended them to God, went forth his house and
3:57:46
Speaker 1: her shift, barefoot and nothing on her head, and returned
3:57:50
Speaker 1: to her father, followed by the tears and lamentations of
3:57:53
Speaker 1: all who saw her. Gianuccolo, who had never been able
3:57:57
Speaker 1: to believe it true that Gualtieri should entertain his daughter
3:58:00
Speaker 1: to wife, and when in daily expectation of this event,
3:58:03
Speaker 1: had kept her the clothes which she had put off
3:58:05
Speaker 1: the morning that Gualtieri had married her, and now brought
3:58:07
Speaker 1: them to her, whereupon she donned them and addressed herself,
3:58:11
Speaker 1: as she had been wont to do, to the little
3:58:14
Speaker 1: offices of her father's house, enduring the cruel onslaught of
3:58:17
Speaker 1: hostile fortune with a stout heart. Gualtieri, having done this,
3:58:22
Speaker 1: gave out to his people that he had chosen a
3:58:24
Speaker 1: daughter of one of the counts of Panago, and letting
3:58:26
Speaker 1: make great preparations for the nuptials, sent for Griselda to
3:58:29
Speaker 1: come to him, and said to her, I am about
3:58:32
Speaker 1: to bring home this lady, whom I have newly taken
3:58:35
Speaker 1: to wife, and mean at this her first coming, to
3:58:38
Speaker 1: do her honor. Thou knowest I have no women about
3:58:41
Speaker 1: me who know how to array meither rooms, nor to
3:58:43
Speaker 1: do a multitude of things that behoove unto such a festival.
3:58:46
Speaker 1: Wherefore do thou, who art better verse than any else
3:58:49
Speaker 1: in these household matters, order that which is to do here,
3:58:52
Speaker 1: and let bid such ladies as it seemeth good to thee,
3:58:55
Speaker 1: and receive them, as thou wert mistress here. Then when
3:58:58
Speaker 1: the nuptials are ended, thou mayst be gone back to
3:59:01
Speaker 1: thy house. Albeit these words were all daggers to Griselda's heart,
3:59:06
Speaker 1: who had been unable to lay down the love she
3:59:08
Speaker 1: bore him, as she had laid down her fair fortune.
3:59:10
Speaker 1: She replied, my Lord, I am ready and willing, then,
3:59:15
Speaker 1: in her coarse homespun clothes, entering the house, whence she
3:59:18
Speaker 1: had a little before departed in her shift. She fell
3:59:21
Speaker 1: to sweeping and ordering the chambers, and letting place hangings
3:59:24
Speaker 1: and cover cloths about the saloons, and make ready the viands,
3:59:27
Speaker 1: putting her hand to everything as she was some paltry
3:59:30
Speaker 1: serving wench of the house, nor ever gave over till
3:59:34
Speaker 1: she had arrayed and ordered everything as it behooved. Thereafter,
3:59:38
Speaker 1: having let invite all the ladies of the country on
3:59:40
Speaker 1: Gualtieri's part, she awaited the day of the festival, which,
3:59:43
Speaker 1: being come with a cheerful countenance and the spirit and
3:59:46
Speaker 1: bearing of a lady of high degree. For all she
3:59:49
Speaker 1: had mean clothes on her back, she received all the
3:59:52
Speaker 1: ladies who came thither. Meanwhile, Gualtieri, who had caused the
3:59:57
Speaker 1: two children be diligently reared in Bologna by his kinswoman,
4:00:00
Speaker 1: who was married to a gentleman of the Panago family.
4:00:03
Speaker 1: The girl being now twelve years old and the fairest
4:00:06
Speaker 1: creature that ever was seen in the boy six, had
4:00:08
Speaker 1: sent to his kinsman four hundred eighty two at Bologna,
4:00:13
Speaker 1: praying him be pleased to come to Salutso with his
4:00:15
Speaker 1: son and daughter, and take order to bring with him
4:00:17
Speaker 1: a goodly and honorable company, and bidding him tell every
4:00:20
Speaker 1: one that he was carrying him The young lady to
4:00:22
Speaker 1: his wife, without otherwise discovering to any aught of who
4:00:25
Speaker 1: she was. The gentleman did as the marquis prayed him
4:00:29
Speaker 1: in setting out with the girl and boy and a
4:00:31
Speaker 1: goodly company of gentlefolk. After some day's journey, arrived about
4:00:35
Speaker 1: dinner time at Saluzzo, where he found all the country
4:00:38
Speaker 1: folk and many others of the neighborhood awaiting Gualtieri's new bride.
4:00:43
Speaker 1: The latter being received by the ladies and come into
4:00:45
Speaker 1: the saloon where the tables were laid. Griselda came to
4:00:48
Speaker 1: meet her, glad as she was, and accosted her blithely, saying,
4:00:52
Speaker 1: welcome and fair, welcome to my lady. Thereupon the ladies,
4:00:57
Speaker 1: who had urgently but in vain, besought galton Pier to
4:01:00
Speaker 1: suffer Griselda to abide in a chamber or lend her
4:01:02
Speaker 1: one of the gowns that had been hers, so that
4:01:05
Speaker 1: she might not go Thus, before his guests were seated
4:01:07
Speaker 1: at table, and it was proceeded to serve them. The
4:01:11
Speaker 1: girl was eyed by every one, and all declared that
4:01:13
Speaker 1: Gualtieri had made a good exchange, and among the rest
4:01:16
Speaker 1: Griselda commended her a main both her and her young
4:01:19
Speaker 1: brother GUALTIERI, perceiving that the strangeness of the case in
4:01:23
Speaker 1: no wise changed her, and being assured that this proceeded
4:01:26
Speaker 1: not from lack of understanding, for that he knew her
4:01:28
Speaker 1: to be very quick of wit. Him seemed he had
4:01:32
Speaker 1: now seen fully as much as he desired of his
4:01:34
Speaker 1: lady's patience, and he judged it time to deliver her
4:01:36
Speaker 1: from the bitterness, which he doubted not she kept hidden
4:01:39
Speaker 1: under her constant countenance. Wherefore, calling her to himself, he
4:01:43
Speaker 1: said to her, smiling, in the presence of every one,
4:01:46
Speaker 1: how deemest thou of our bride? My Lord answered she,
4:01:50
Speaker 1: I deem exceeding well of her. And if as I
4:01:53
Speaker 1: believe she is as discreet as she is fair, I
4:01:56
Speaker 1: doubt not a wit. But you will live the happiest
4:01:58
Speaker 1: gentleman in the world with her. But I beseech you,
4:02:01
Speaker 1: as most I may, that you inflict not on her
4:02:03
Speaker 1: those pangs which you inflicted whiler on her who was
4:02:05
Speaker 1: sometime yours. For methinketh she might scarce avail to endure them,
4:02:10
Speaker 1: both because she is younger and because she hath been
4:02:13
Speaker 1: delicately reared, whereas the other had been in continual fatigues
4:02:16
Speaker 1: from a little child. Thereupon, GUALTIERI, seeing she firmly believed
4:02:21
Speaker 1: that the young lady was to be his wife, nor
4:02:23
Speaker 1: therefore spoke any wise less than well, seated her by
4:02:26
Speaker 1: his side and said to her, Griselda, it is now
4:02:30
Speaker 1: time that thou reap the fruits of thy long patience,
4:02:32
Speaker 1: and that those who have reputed me cruel and unjust
4:02:35
Speaker 1: and brutish should know that this which I have done
4:02:37
Speaker 1: I wrought to an end after seen willing to teach
4:02:39
Speaker 1: THEE to be a wife, and to show them how
4:02:41
Speaker 1: to take and use one, and at the same time
4:02:43
Speaker 1: to beget myself perpetual quiet. What while I had to
4:02:46
Speaker 1: live with THEE, the which, when as I came to
4:02:49
Speaker 1: take a wife, I was sore afraid, might not betide me.
4:02:52
Speaker 1: And therefore to make proof thereof, I probed and afflicted
4:02:56
Speaker 1: THEE after such kind as thou knowest and meseeming for
4:03:00
Speaker 1: that I have never perceived that, either in word or indeed,
4:03:03
Speaker 1: hast thou departed from my pleasure that I have of
4:03:05
Speaker 1: THEE that solace which I desired. I purpose presently to
4:03:08
Speaker 1: restore THEE at one stroke, that which I took from
4:03:11
Speaker 1: THEE at many and to requite THEE with a supreme
4:03:13
Speaker 1: delight the pangs I have inflicted on THEE. Wherefore would
4:03:17
Speaker 1: a joyful heart take this whom thou deemest my bride
4:03:20
Speaker 1: and her brother, for thy children and mine, for these
4:03:22
Speaker 1: be they whom thou and many others have long accounted
4:03:24
Speaker 1: me to have barbarously let put to death. And I
4:03:27
Speaker 1: am thy husband, who loveth THEE over all else, believing
4:03:31
Speaker 1: I may vauant me that there is none else who
4:03:33
Speaker 1: can be so content of his wife as can I.
4:03:35
Speaker 1: So saying, he embraced her and kissed her. Then, rising up,
4:03:39
Speaker 1: he betook himself with Griselda, who wept for joy, whereas
4:03:43
Speaker 1: the daughter, hearing these things, sat all stupefied and tenderly
4:03:47
Speaker 1: embracing her and her brother undeceived her, and many others
4:03:51
Speaker 1: who were there. Thereupon, the ladies arose from table, overjoyed,
4:03:55
Speaker 1: and withdrew with Griselda into a chamber, where, with happier augury,
4:04:00
Speaker 1: pulling off her mean attire, they clad her anew in
4:04:02
Speaker 1: a magnificent dress of her own, and brought her again
4:04:05
Speaker 1: to the saloon as a gentlewoman, which indeed she appeared
4:04:08
Speaker 1: even in rags. There she rejoiced in her children with
4:04:12
Speaker 1: wonder great joy, and all being overjoyed at this happy issue,
4:04:16
Speaker 1: they redoubled in feasting and merrymaking, and prolonged the festivities
4:04:19
Speaker 1: several days. Accounting Gualtieri a very wise man. Albeit they
4:04:23
Speaker 1: held the trials which he had made of his lady
4:04:25
Speaker 1: over harsh, nay intolerable, but over all they held Griselda
4:04:30
Speaker 1: most sage. The Count of Panago returned after some days
4:04:35
Speaker 1: to Bologna, and Gualtieri, taking Gianuccolo from his labor, placed
4:04:39
Speaker 1: him in such a state as befitted his father in law,
4:04:42
Speaker 1: so that he lived in honor and great solace, and
4:04:44
Speaker 1: so ended his days, whilst he himself, having nobly married
4:04:48
Speaker 1: his daughter, lived long and happily with Griselda, honoring her
4:04:52
Speaker 1: as most might be. What more can here be said,
4:04:56
Speaker 1: save that even in poor cottages there rained down divine
4:04:58
Speaker 1: spirits from heaven, like as in princely palaces. There be
4:05:01
Speaker 1: those who were worthier to tend swine than to have
4:05:03
Speaker 1: lordship over men, who but Griselda could, with a countenance
4:05:08
Speaker 1: not only dry four hundred and eighty three, but cheerful,
4:05:12
Speaker 1: have endured the barbarous and unheard proofs made by Gaultieri,
4:05:16
Speaker 1: which latter had not belike been ill requited, had he
4:05:19
Speaker 1: happened upon one who, when he turned her out of
4:05:21
Speaker 1: doors in her shift, had let jumble her furbelows of another,
4:05:24
Speaker 1: to such purpose that a fine gown had come of it.
4:05:28
Speaker 1: Dionio's story being finished, and the ladies having discourse to Maine,
4:05:31
Speaker 1: thereof some inclining to one side and some to another,
4:05:35
Speaker 1: dis blaming one thing, and that commending it. The King,
4:05:38
Speaker 1: lifting his eyes to heaven, and seeing that the sun
4:05:40
Speaker 1: was now low and the hour of vespers at hand,
4:05:43
Speaker 1: proceeded without arising from session to speak, thus charming ladies.
4:05:48
Speaker 1: As I doubt not, you know, the understanding of mortals
4:05:51
Speaker 1: consisteth not only in having in memory things passed, and
4:05:54
Speaker 1: taking cognizance of things present, but in knowing, by means
4:05:57
Speaker 1: of the one and the other of these, to forecast
4:06:00
Speaker 1: thing's future. Is reputed by men of Mark to consist
4:06:02
Speaker 1: the greatest wisdom. Tomorrow, as you know, it will be
4:06:06
Speaker 1: fifteen days since we departed Florence to take some diversion
4:06:10
Speaker 1: for the preservation of our health and of our lives.
4:06:13
Speaker 1: Es shewing the woes and dolors and miseries, which, since
4:06:16
Speaker 1: this pestilential season began, are continually to be seen about
4:06:19
Speaker 1: our city. This, to my judgment, we have well and
4:06:23
Speaker 1: honorably done for that, and I have known to see aright,
4:06:27
Speaker 1: albeit merry, stories and belike incentive to concupiscence have been
4:06:30
Speaker 1: told here, and we have continually eaten and drunken well,
4:06:33
Speaker 1: and danced and sung and made music, all things apt
4:06:35
Speaker 1: to incite weak minds to things less seemly. I have
4:06:38
Speaker 1: noted no act, no word in fine, nothing blameworthy, either
4:06:43
Speaker 1: on your part or on that of us men. Nay meseemeth.
4:06:46
Speaker 1: I have seen and felt here a continual decency, an
4:06:49
Speaker 1: unbroken concord, and a constant fraternal familiarity, the which, at
4:06:53
Speaker 1: once for your honor and service and for mine own,
4:06:56
Speaker 1: is surdies most pleasing to me. Lest, however, for over
4:07:01
Speaker 1: long usance ought should grow thereof that might issue in tediousness,
4:07:04
Speaker 1: and that none may avail to cavil at our overlong terrans,
4:07:08
Speaker 1: each of us moreover, having had his or her share
4:07:11
Speaker 1: of the honor that yet resideth in myself. I hold
4:07:13
Speaker 1: it meet, and it be your pleasure that we now return,
4:07:16
Speaker 1: whence we came more by token that, if you consider aright,
4:07:20
Speaker 1: our company, already known to several others of the neighborhood,
4:07:24
Speaker 1: may multiply after a fashion that will deprive us of
4:07:26
Speaker 1: our every commodity. Wherefore, if you approve my counsel, I
4:07:31
Speaker 1: will retain the crown conferred on me until our departure,
4:07:34
Speaker 1: which I purpose shall be to morrow morning. But should
4:07:37
Speaker 1: you determine otherwise, I have already in mind whom I
4:07:39
Speaker 1: shall invest withal for the ensuing day. Much was the
4:07:43
Speaker 1: debate between the ladies and the young men, but ultimately
4:07:46
Speaker 1: they all took the King's counsel for useful and seemly,
4:07:49
Speaker 1: and determined to do as he proposed. Whereupon, calling the Seneschal,
4:07:53
Speaker 1: he bespoke him of the manner which he should hold
4:07:55
Speaker 1: on the ensuing morning, And after having dismissed the company
4:07:58
Speaker 1: until supper time, he rose to his feet. The ladies
4:08:03
Speaker 1: and the young men, following his example, gave themselves this
4:08:06
Speaker 1: to one kind of diversion, and that to another, no
4:08:09
Speaker 1: otherwise than of their wont and supper time come, they
4:08:12
Speaker 1: betook themselves to table with the utmost pleasure, and after
4:08:15
Speaker 1: fell to singing and caroling and making music. Presently Loretta
4:08:20
Speaker 1: leading up a dance, the king bade Fiametta sing a song,
4:08:23
Speaker 1: whereupon she very blithely proceeded to sing. Thus, if love
4:08:27
Speaker 1: came but without in jealousy, I know no lady born
4:08:30
Speaker 1: so blithe as I were, hussoor she be if glad
4:08:34
Speaker 1: some youthfulness in a fair lover might content a maid,
4:08:36
Speaker 1: virtue and worth, discreet valiance, or gentileesse, wit and sweet speech,
4:08:41
Speaker 1: and fashions, all arrayed in pleasantness, complete curdies. I'm she
4:08:45
Speaker 1: for whose behoof these meet in one, for love o'erborne
4:08:48
Speaker 1: all these in him who is my hope. I see.
4:08:51
Speaker 1: But for that I perceive that other women are as
4:08:53
Speaker 1: wise as I. I tremble for affright, intending to believe
4:08:56
Speaker 1: the worst in others, the desire espy of him who
4:08:59
Speaker 1: steals my right. Thus this that is my good and
4:09:01
Speaker 1: chief delight in force of me forlorn, sigh sore, and
4:09:05
Speaker 1: live in dole and misery. If I knew fealty such
4:09:08
Speaker 1: in him, my Lord, as I know merit, there I
4:09:11
Speaker 1: were not jealous. I but here is seen so much
4:09:13
Speaker 1: lovers to tempt, how true they be soer I hold
4:09:17
Speaker 1: all false, whereby I am all disconsolate, and fain would
4:09:20
Speaker 1: die of each with doubting torn who eyes him lest
4:09:22
Speaker 1: she bear him of from me. Be then each lady
4:09:26
Speaker 1: prayed by God that she and this be not intent
4:09:29
Speaker 1: gainst me to do amiss. For sure, if any maid
4:09:32
Speaker 1: should or with words or becks or blandishment my detriment
4:09:35
Speaker 1: in this seek or procure, and if I note a wiss,
4:09:38
Speaker 1: be all my charms forsworn. But I will make her
4:09:40
Speaker 1: rue it bitterly. No sooner had Fiametta made an end
4:09:44
Speaker 1: of her song than Dioneo, who was beside her, said, laughing, Madam,
4:09:48
Speaker 1: you would do a great courtesy to let all the
4:09:50
Speaker 1: ladies know who he is, lest you be ousted of
4:09:53
Speaker 1: his possession through ignorance, since you would be so sore incensed.
4:09:56
Speaker 1: Thereath after this Diver's other songs were sung, and the night,
4:10:00
Speaker 1: being now well nigh half spent, they all, by the
4:10:04
Speaker 1: king's commandment, betook themselves to repose. As the new day appeared,
4:10:09
Speaker 1: they arose, and the seneschal, having already despatched all their
4:10:12
Speaker 1: gear in advance, they returned, under the guidance of their
4:10:15
Speaker 1: discreet king, to Florence, where the three young men took
4:10:18
Speaker 1: leave of the seven ladies, and leaving them in Santa
4:10:21
Speaker 1: Maria Novella, whence they had set out with them, went
4:10:24
Speaker 1: about their other pleasures, whilst the ladies, when as it
4:10:28
Speaker 1: seemed to them time, returned to their houses here in death.
4:10:32
Speaker 1: The tenth and last day of the Decameron, conclusion of
4:10:34
Speaker 1: the author most noble damsels, for whose solace I have
4:10:37
Speaker 1: addressed myself to so long a labor I have now methinketh,
4:10:41
Speaker 1: with the aid of the divine favor vouchsafed me as
4:10:44
Speaker 1: I deem for your pious prayers and not for my
4:10:47
Speaker 1: proper merits, truly accomplished that which I engaged at the
4:10:51
Speaker 1: beginning of this present work to do. Wherefore, returning thanks
4:10:55
Speaker 1: first to God and after to you, it behoveth to
4:10:57
Speaker 1: give rest to my pen and to my tired hand,
4:11:01
Speaker 1: which ere I accord them, I purpose briefly to reply
4:11:04
Speaker 1: as to objections tacitly broached to certain small matters that may, peradventure,
4:11:08
Speaker 1: be alleged by some one of you or by others.
4:11:11
Speaker 1: Since Miss seameth very certain that these stories have no
4:11:13
Speaker 1: especial privilege more than other things nay, I mind me
4:11:17
Speaker 1: to have shown at the beginning of the fourth day
4:11:20
Speaker 1: that they have none such. There are, peradventure some of
4:11:25
Speaker 1: you who will say that I have used over much
4:11:27
Speaker 1: license in inditing these stories, as well as in making
4:11:30
Speaker 1: ladies whiles say, and very often hearken to things not
4:11:33
Speaker 1: very seemly either to be said or heard of modest women.
4:11:37
Speaker 1: This I deny, for that there is nothing so unseemly
4:11:40
Speaker 1: as to be forbidden unto any one. So but he
4:11:42
Speaker 1: express it in seemly terms as miss seameth. Indeed, I
4:11:45
Speaker 1: have here very aptly done. But let us suppose that
4:11:49
Speaker 1: it is so. For that I mean not to plead
4:11:51
Speaker 1: with you who would overcome me. I say that many
4:11:54
Speaker 1: reasons very readily offer themselves in answer why I have
4:11:57
Speaker 1: done this. Firstly, if there be aught thereof four hundred
4:12:01
Speaker 1: and eighty four in any of them, the nature of
4:12:04
Speaker 1: the stories required it, the which and they be considered
4:12:07
Speaker 1: with the rational eye of a person of understanding, it
4:12:10
Speaker 1: will be abundantly manifest that I could not have otherwise recounted,
4:12:13
Speaker 1: and I would not altogether disfeature them. And if perchance
4:12:17
Speaker 1: there be therein some tittle, some word, let or too freer.
4:12:21
Speaker 1: Maybe then liketh your squeamish, hypocritical prudes, who weigh words
4:12:25
Speaker 1: rather than deeds, and study more to appear than to
4:12:28
Speaker 1: be good. I say that it should no more be
4:12:31
Speaker 1: forbidden me to write them, than it is commonly forbidden
4:12:33
Speaker 1: unto men and women to say all day long, whole
4:12:36
Speaker 1: and peg and mortar, and pestle, and sausage and polony,
4:12:39
Speaker 1: in all manner like things, without reckoning, that no less
4:12:42
Speaker 1: liberty should be accorded to my pen than is conceded
4:12:44
Speaker 1: to the brush of the limner, who, without any or
4:12:48
Speaker 1: at the least any just reprehension, mocketh. Let be Saint
4:12:52
Speaker 1: Michael's smite the serpent with sword or spear, and Saint
4:12:55
Speaker 1: George the dragon, whereas it pleaseet them, but adam male
4:12:58
Speaker 1: and e female, And as fixeth to the cross, wiles
4:13:01
Speaker 1: with one nail, and wiles with two, the feet of
4:13:04
Speaker 1: him himself, who willed for the salvation of the human
4:13:07
Speaker 1: race to die upon the rude. Moreover, it is eth
4:13:10
Speaker 1: enough to see that these things are spoken not in
4:13:13
Speaker 1: the Church of the affairs, whereof it behoveth to speak
4:13:16
Speaker 1: with a mind and in terms alike of the chastest
4:13:18
Speaker 1: albeit among its histories there are tales enough to be
4:13:21
Speaker 1: found of another gates fashioned than those written by me.
4:13:23
Speaker 1: Nor yet in the schools of philosophy, where decency is
4:13:27
Speaker 1: no less required than other where, nor among churchmen or
4:13:30
Speaker 1: philosophers anywhere, but amidst gardens, in a place of pleasance
4:13:34
Speaker 1: and diversion, and among men and women, though young yet
4:13:37
Speaker 1: of mature wit, and not to be led astray by stories,
4:13:40
Speaker 1: at a time when it was not forbidden to the
4:13:42
Speaker 1: most virtuous to go for their own preservation with their
4:13:46
Speaker 1: breeches on their heads. Again, such as they are, these stories,
4:13:51
Speaker 1: like everything else, can both harm and profit according to
4:13:54
Speaker 1: the disposition of the listener. Who knoweth not that wine, though,
4:13:59
Speaker 1: according to Scilian and Scalajo four hundred and eighty five
4:14:03
Speaker 1: and many others an excellent thing for people in health
4:14:06
Speaker 1: four hundred and eighty six, is hurtful unto whoso hath
4:14:09
Speaker 1: the fever. Shall we say, then, because it harmeth the fever,
4:14:14
Speaker 1: that it is not? Who knoweth not that fire is
4:14:17
Speaker 1: most useful, nay necessary, to mortals, Shall we say, because
4:14:22
Speaker 1: it burneth houses and villages and cities, that it is
4:14:25
Speaker 1: not arms? Un likewise, assure the welfare of those who
4:14:29
Speaker 1: desire to live in peace, And yet oftentimes slay men
4:14:32
Speaker 1: not of any malice of their own, but of the
4:14:34
Speaker 1: perversity of those who use them wrongfully. Corrupt mind never
4:14:38
Speaker 1: understood word healthily, and even as seemly words profit not
4:14:42
Speaker 1: depraved minds. So those which are not altogether seemly avail
4:14:45
Speaker 1: not to contaminate the well disposed any more than Mayer
4:14:48
Speaker 1: can sully the rays of the sun or earthly foulness,
4:14:51
Speaker 1: the beauties of the sky. What books, what words, what letters,
4:14:55
Speaker 1: are holier, worthier, more venerable than those of the divine scriptures.
4:15:00
Speaker 1: Yet many there be who interpreting them perversely, have brought
4:15:04
Speaker 1: themselves and others to perdition. Everything in itself is good
4:15:08
Speaker 1: unto somewhat, and ill used may be in many things harmful.
4:15:12
Speaker 1: And so say I of my stories. If any be
4:15:15
Speaker 1: minded to draw there from illk counsel, or ill practice,
4:15:18
Speaker 1: they will no wise forbid it him. If perchance they
4:15:21
Speaker 1: have it in them, or be strained and twisted into
4:15:23
Speaker 1: having it, And whoso will have profit and utility thereof,
4:15:26
Speaker 1: they will not deny it him, Nor will they be
4:15:28
Speaker 1: ever styled or accounted other than useful and seemly if
4:15:32
Speaker 1: they be read at those times, and to those persons
4:15:35
Speaker 1: for which and for whom they have been recounted. Whoso
4:15:38
Speaker 1: hath to say poternosters or to make tarts and puddings
4:15:41
Speaker 1: for her spiritual director, let her leave them be. They
4:15:44
Speaker 1: will not run after any to make her read them.
4:15:46
Speaker 1: Albeit your she saints themselves now and again say and
4:15:49
Speaker 1: even do fine things. There be some ladies also who
4:15:53
Speaker 1: will say that there are some stories here which have
4:15:55
Speaker 1: been better away, granted, But I could not, nor should
4:15:59
Speaker 1: right art, save them actually related. Wherefore those who told
4:16:02
Speaker 1: them should have told them goodly, and I would have
4:16:04
Speaker 1: written them goodly. But if folk will eam pretend that
4:16:07
Speaker 1: I am both the inventor and writer thereof which I
4:16:10
Speaker 1: am not, I say that I should not take shame
4:16:13
Speaker 1: to myself that they were not all alike goodly, For
4:16:15
Speaker 1: that there is no craftsman living, barring God, who doth
4:16:18
Speaker 1: everything alike well and completely. Witness Charlemagne, who was the
4:16:22
Speaker 1: first maker of the paladins, but knew not to make
4:16:25
Speaker 1: so many thereof that he might availed to form an
4:16:28
Speaker 1: army of them alone. In the multitude of things, needs
4:16:32
Speaker 1: must divers qualities thereof be found. No field was ever
4:16:36
Speaker 1: so well tilled, but therein or nettles, or thistles, or
4:16:39
Speaker 1: somewhat of briars or other weeds might be found mingled
4:16:42
Speaker 1: with the better herbs. Besides having to speak to simple
4:16:46
Speaker 1: lasses such as you are. For the most part, it
4:16:48
Speaker 1: had been folly to go seeking and wearying myself to
4:16:51
Speaker 1: find very choice and exquisite matters, and to use great
4:16:54
Speaker 1: pains to speak very measuredly allgates. Whoso goeth reading among these,
4:17:00
Speaker 1: let him leave those which offend, and read those which divert.
4:17:03
Speaker 1: They all, not to lead any one into error, bear
4:17:06
Speaker 1: branded upon the forefront that which they hold hidden within
4:17:09
Speaker 1: their bosoms. Again, I doubt not, But there be those
4:17:13
Speaker 1: who will say that some of them are over long,
4:17:15
Speaker 1: to whom I say again that whoso hath over what
4:17:17
Speaker 1: to do, doth folly to read these stories, even though
4:17:20
Speaker 1: they were brief, and albeit a great while is passed
4:17:23
Speaker 1: from the time when I began to write, to this
4:17:25
Speaker 1: present hour, when as I come to the end of
4:17:27
Speaker 1: my toils, it hath not therefore escaped my memory that
4:17:30
Speaker 1: I proffered this might travail to idle women, and not
4:17:32
Speaker 1: to others, and unto whoso rea death to pass away
4:17:35
Speaker 1: the time nothing can be over long. So but it
4:17:38
Speaker 1: do that for which he useth it. Things brief are
4:17:41
Speaker 1: far better suited unto students who study not to pass
4:17:45
Speaker 1: away but usefully to employ time, than to you, ladies,
4:17:48
Speaker 1: who have on your hands all the time that you
4:17:50
Speaker 1: spend not in the pleasures of love. More by token
4:17:53
Speaker 1: that as none of you goeth to Athens or Bologna
4:17:56
Speaker 1: or Paris to study, it behoveth to speak to you
4:17:59
Speaker 1: more at large than to those who have had their
4:18:01
Speaker 1: wits wedded by study. Again, I doubt not a jot,
4:18:05
Speaker 1: But there be yet some of you who will say
4:18:07
Speaker 1: that the things aforesaid are full of quips and cranks
4:18:09
Speaker 1: and quadle bets, and that it will beseemeth a man
4:18:12
Speaker 1: of weight and gravity to have written us. To these
4:18:15
Speaker 1: I am bound to render, and do render thanks for that.
4:18:18
Speaker 1: Moved by a virtuous jealousy, they are so tender of
4:18:21
Speaker 1: my fame. But to their objection I reply on this wise,
4:18:24
Speaker 1: I confess to being a man of weight, and to
4:18:26
Speaker 1: have been often weighed in my time. Wherefore, speaking to
4:18:30
Speaker 1: those ladies who have not weighed me, I declare that
4:18:32
Speaker 1: I am not heavy, Nay, I am so light that
4:18:36
Speaker 1: I abide like a nutgall in water. And considering that
4:18:39
Speaker 1: the preachments made of Friars to rebuke men of their
4:18:41
Speaker 1: sins are nowadays, for the most part seen full of
4:18:44
Speaker 1: quips and cranks and jibes, I conceived that these latter
4:18:47
Speaker 1: would not sit amiss in my stories written to ease
4:18:50
Speaker 1: women of melancholy allgates, and they should laugh over much
4:18:54
Speaker 1: on that account, the lamentations of Jeremiah, the passion of
4:18:57
Speaker 1: our Savior, and the complaint of Mary Magdalen, and will
4:19:00
Speaker 1: lightly avail to cure them thereof again, who can doubt,
4:19:04
Speaker 1: But there will to boot be found some to say
4:19:06
Speaker 1: that I have an ill tongue and a venomous For
4:19:08
Speaker 1: that I have in sundry places written the truth in
4:19:10
Speaker 1: it the Friars to those who shall say thus, it
4:19:14
Speaker 1: must be forgiven, since it is not credible that they
4:19:16
Speaker 1: are moved by other than just cause. For that the
4:19:19
Speaker 1: Friars are a good sort of folk, who a shoe
4:19:21
Speaker 1: unease for the love of God, and who grind with
4:19:23
Speaker 1: a full head of water, and tell no tales, And
4:19:26
Speaker 1: but that they all savor somewhat of the buck goat
4:19:29
Speaker 1: their commerce would be far more agreeable. Naythless, I confess
4:19:34
Speaker 1: that the things of this world have no stability, and
4:19:36
Speaker 1: are still on the change. And so may it have
4:19:38
Speaker 1: befallen of my tongue, the which not to trust to
4:19:41
Speaker 1: mine own judgment, which I eschew as most I may
4:19:44
Speaker 1: in my affairs. A she neighbor of mine, told me
4:19:46
Speaker 1: not long since, was the best and sweetest in the world.
4:19:51
Speaker 1: And in good sooth, were this the case, there have
4:19:53
Speaker 1: been few of the foregoing stories to write. But for
4:19:57
Speaker 1: that those who say thus speak despitefully, I will that
4:20:00
Speaker 1: which hath been said sufficed them for a reply. Wherefore,
4:20:03
Speaker 1: leaving each of you henceforth to say and believe as
4:20:05
Speaker 1: seemeth good to her, it is time for me to
4:20:08
Speaker 1: make an end of words, humbly thanking him who hath,
4:20:11
Speaker 1: after so long a labor, brought us, with his help,
4:20:13
Speaker 1: to the desired end. And you, charming ladies, abide you
4:20:18
Speaker 1: in peace with his favor, remembering you of me. If
4:20:21
Speaker 1: perchance it profit any of you, ought to have read
4:20:23
Speaker 1: these stories. The end. Thanks for listening.